Are we the good Samaritan? Or the robber?

Are we the good Samaritan? Or the robber? We are all one or the other. There’s no saying that we’ve never been in the scenario Jesus painted. Because we’re in it. Right now. Every. Single. one. of. us. Everyone!

good-samaritan-1200-767 » God versus religion

Look at the image. Are we the child? Or are we the person responsible for the man being on the bench?

In other words, are we the Good Samaritan? Or the Robber?

And did you notice the image of the person on the wall?

We are in the image. The question is, which one are we?

I write this during COVID, when the number of homeless people went up dramatically. Sadly, COVID, while still around, is far from what it was at the time. And yet, homelessness is more of a problem than ever.

Therefore, an update is in order.

Summary

The article explores the moral implications of our actions during the COVID pandemic, drawing parallels between contemporary issues of homelessness and the biblical Parable of the Good Samaritan. It challenges readers to reflect on their role in society’s struggles, questioning whether they are the helpers, the indifferent, or those contributing to the suffering of others.

Parable of the Good Samaritan: The page discusses the biblical Parable of the Good Samaritan, encouraging readers to reflect on whether they act as the Good Samaritan or the robber in their daily lives, especially in the context of the COVID pandemic and its impact on homelessness.

Self-Reflection: It prompts self-reflection on the reader’s actions during the pandemic, questioning if they contributed to the suffering of others or if they acted with compassion and mercy, akin to the Good Samaritan.

Christian Response: The article calls for a Christian response to the suffering caused by COVID-19, emphasizing the importance of helping those in need and considering the teachings of Jesus Christ.

Spiritual Insights: It offers spiritual insights and biblical references to encourage readers to seek a deeper understanding of their faith and actions, particularly in how they relate to the less fortunate in society.

Reflecting on the Parable of the Good Samaritan, the web page urges us to consider our roles in society during challenging times, such as the COVID pandemic. It challenges us to ask ourselves whether we are the helpers, the indifferent, or those who contribute to the suffering of others. The page calls for introspection and action, encouraging us to embody the compassion of the Good Samaritan in our daily lives. Ultimately, it reminds us that our choices have a profound impact on the world around us, and it is through our actions that we can demonstrate love and care for our neighbors.

We’ll get into everything above in a moment.
But first, just in case someone’s not familiar with the Parable of the Good Samaritan, here it is.

The Parable of the Good Samaritan

^{10:25-28 pp — Mt 22:34-40; Mk 12:28-31}

^{Lk 10:25} On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
^{Lk 10:26} “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”
^{Lk 10:27} He answered: “ ‘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.’’”
^{Lk 10:28} “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”
^{Lk 10:29} But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
^{Lk 10:30} In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. ³¹ A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. ³² So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. ³³ But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. ³⁴ He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. ³⁵ The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’
^{Lk 10:36} “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”
^{Lk 10:37} The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”
Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”