But Jesus pulls out these unlikely examples to deliver his message. So how do we take the parable of the Good Samaritan and apply it to our modern lives today? Like my friend on the airplane. But they are there. Maybe even in our own homes. “To be a good Samaritan in today’s world is to realise our duties as global citizens – to consider how our lifestyles impact on the less fortunate – and to take action.” We’re all busy doing something. It’s pretty easy to go to church on Sunday, put some money in the offering plate, and donate to special charities around Christmas or send a few dollars to missionaries in far off lands. “For example in tsunami relief in Sri Lanka, Caritas took into consideration the region’s major religions when buying relief products from local merchants. By the time the cabin was rocking wildly, I was barfing into the all-important white bag that passengers can grab from the front seat pocket. ( Log Out / But getting involved with people, that’s hard. do your best, god knows the hypocrites and the foolish brides, get rid of guilt, lie and hate and your on the right path, for i am a sinner and will repent and look forward. “The ability to write such letters to authorities should be taught in Catholic schools – indeed I know of a school in Brisbane where this is happening.”. Used by permission. Remember, the Samaritan was traveling somewhere, too. He risked his reputation as well. Men passed by but did nothing to help. Take a look at the roles of the three men who passed by the man left for dead along the road. Perhaps he missed an important business meeting. Maybe people would think that he was the one who robbed this man. Moreover, the Samaritan risked his life transporting the traveler to safety, and even paid for his recovery. From the bottom of my heart. Kindness is in his DNA. The priest and Levite both counted the risk and determined that it was too risky to help out, and so they walked on by. But among everyone else, Jesus chooses a Samaritan to be the compassionate, helpful man who comes by and helps the half-dead man, who very likely was a Jew. It was clear that such spectacular failures of relief work as the 1994 Rwandan genocide, where Christian turned on Christian – the Tutsis versus the Hutus – and hundreds of thousands were slaughtered, had also led to much soul searching and re-evaluation of the work of the modern good Samaritan. The parable of the Good Samaritan is told by Jesus in the Gospel of Luke. Or would you have been too busy? As I write, I am remembering a similar encounter with a stranger on a Southwest Airlines flight as we were landing in a turbulent sandstorm in Phoenix. Mr MacLaren said a major part of his new role was to assist the integration of such Catholic social teachings more fully into aid work – to ensure a holistic rather than economic approach to helping people in third world countries. “Who is my neighbor.” It’s important to understand that in the current Jewish culture, Jews only considered fellow Jews to be their neighbors. Close by you. I am the author of five business books. If you genuinely want to show mercy and love, don’t count the cost. Xenophobia and racial prejudice have always been a great divider among nations. We live in such a busy society today. “Caritas is currently looking at a new curriculum which involves parents so they have to talk to each other – the motivation will be the future good of their children.”. Samaritans and Jews despised each other, but the Samaritan helps the injured man in spite of their differences. He obviously believed them and I am grateful that he did. Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. Eternal life is a gift we gain through salvation and relationship with God; it’s not something we earn at all. On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.’ So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?”, And he said, “He who showed mercy on him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.” (Luke 10: 25-37 NKJV), A certain lawyer asked Jesus, “Who is my neighbor.” Centuries later, we continue asking similar questions. Medics (more good Samaritans) came on board, gave me oxygen and took me to the closest hospital. Both the priest and the Levite chose not to get involved. He avoided even going close enough to get a good look. Too broken or too proud to reach out? At this point in history, Samaritans were considered by Jews to be low-caste because they didn’t obey Jewish laws and had intermarried with pagans. How The Parable of the Good Samaritan Relates to Life Today Help When Someone Needs Help. Somewhere along the way other people in his life-maybe his parents, or his pastor, or his wife- told him and showed him that we cannot ignore people in peril and that we really are our brother’s (and sister’s) keeper. of course those who have compassion, but we of little faith don’t have the compassion as god does. First, the priest saw him, and he passed by on the other side of the road. Moreover, the Samaritan risked his life transporting the traveler to safety, and even paid for his recovery. Indeed Pope Benedict makes this point in his recently published book on Jesus,” he said. Being a good Samaritan is one of those really good ideas. I promise. But he risked his safety by stopping and taking the beaten man along with him. tsk! Having the intent to help is good but acting on that intent is much better. Yes, still today, we keep asking, “Who is my neighbor.”, This conversation between Jesus and the lawyer all started when the lawyer asked Jesus what he needed to do to inherit eternal life. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. Today the Samaritans are a small group of about 800. What does it mean to be a Good Samaritan today? So, the priest stayed well away from this source of “uncleanliness.” Perhaps the Levite felt the same way because he too refused even to get close to this man. Both loving God with all our hearts and loving our neighbors as ourselves come with sacrifice. One of the best-known parables Jesus told is that of the Good Samaritan. What can we continue learning from this story right now? Why? Change ), You are commenting using your Facebook account. And the Samaritan was quite a controversial figure among an audience of Jews who hated Samaritans. The Names of Jesus: Who is Jesus According to the Scriptures? The parable of the good Samaritan is known to most of us: a traveler waylaid by bandits and left for dead is bypassed by countrymen and clergy able to help, but too concerned for their own safety or affairs. However, the good Samaritan didn’t allow prejudice to get in the way of helping out the man he found injured on the side of the road. By using the Samaritan as an example, Jesus shows that there are no conditions to who is our neighbor. At that point in history, priests couldn’t touch anything unclean like a dead body or even blood. One of the things I find most interesting about the parable of the good Samaritan is that the traveler he rescued never officially asked for his help. At that moment, he put aside any shallowness to care for his fellow human being, and that’s an important lesson we need to remember today. It’s not easy to get involved in the lives of others. They have great needs that are not being met. Sometimes I notice something that needs to be done but assume I’m not the one for the job because I already have too much to do. He stopped, had compassion, and took care of this man who was in desperate need.