I think most of us are very familiar with the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37), one of the most iconic stories told by Jesus. When He was asked by an expert in the law: “‘Teacher,…what must I do to inherit eternal life?'”, Jesus responded: “‘What is written in the Law?…How do you read it?'” The student replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'”, and, “‘Love your neighbor as yourself.'” Jesus told him that he had answered correctly…if he did this he would live. The man then asked: “‘And who is my neighbor?'”
Jesus went on to describe how a Jewish man was travelling down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was suddenly attacked by robbers. They stole his clothes, beat him, and left him for dead. Both a priest and a Levite (a member of the Hebrew tribe of Levi, who may have assisted the priests in the temple) saw him, but passed by to the other side of the road. They rendered no aid to the man, even though they were “religious” people. However, a Samaritan (a half-Gentile and half-Jewish person, despised by the Jews) was also walking on the road that day, saw the victim, and took pity on him. Not only did he bandage his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them, but he put the man on his own donkey, and brought him to an inn where he took care of him. Moreover, he paid the innkeeper money to look after him (two days wages back then) and said that when he returned, he would pay any extra money owed! Jesus then asked: “‘Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?'” The expert replied: “‘The one who had mercy on him.'” Jesus then stated: “‘Go and do likewise.'”
The irony of this simple but profound story is that the most unlikely helper was the one person who showed tremendous kindness, caring, and empathy to someone who would normally be an enemy to him! The two “religious” Jews were extremely apathetic and uncaring and did not render any aid to their own countryman. Wow…how many times in our own lives have we seen someone who needed our help, and we willfully ignored them and “walked to the other side”. Indeed, it is human nature to protect ourselves and not want to get involved in other people’s problems and mishaps. Even those paid to help us do not always come through in the way they should. It is rarer still to encounter someone who is willing to go that extra mile, especially in today’s culture.
Over the past summer, my husband and I were on the receiving end of a number of medical and hospital services. He was twice hospitalized for a very serious case of bacterial pneumonia, requiring me to call 911 no less than three times. In each instance, both the paramedics and firemen responded in a quick, caring, and professional manner, treating both of us with the utmost respect in the process. The hospital experience was mixed, at best, with the first hospitalization feeling like a complete nightmare from start to finish. Paul endured two days and two nights in the emergency department, experiencing very bad delirium from the infection, and unfortunately, he had to stay there until a bed opened up on a medical unit. The nursing care overall was questionable, to say the least, and included a bad fall that was completely covered up by the nurse in question as well as hospital management. Thank goodness for my wonderful daughter and her best friend there, who was the social worker on that floor. They both worked behind the scenes, advocating on our behalf.
Similarly, when I took Paul to a walk-in clinic in our area on the Saturday of the August long weekend, he suddenly became very weak and unwell in the waiting room. I had a very hard time getting the attention of the receptionist, and when I did, she was reluctant to ask the doctor to come out to check on him. Then, when the doctor finally emerged from the examining room, she did very little to actually help him. Even though we were checked in, she gave the impression that she did not want to get involved. In fact, she never even took his vital signs and after a perfunctory couple of questions, went back to her other patients! At one point, I thought he may have been having a stroke as he almost fainted and fell onto the floor…emergency services were finally called, and they performed everything that the doctor neglected to do. She did not really render aid.
It is a very sad day indeed when paid professionals neglect to perform the duties that their job requires, let alone strangers who show no mercy to others in need. As Christians, however, we are instructed to go the extra distance in everything we do, whether it is in our job, home life, community, school or church. In Matthew 20:26-28, Jesus told his disciples: “‘…whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave – just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.'” As Christ’s ambassadors on earth, we are meant to emulate Jesus, “the suffering servant”. Sometimes, that action will take us out of our comfort zone, but it is well worth it in the end!
