Good Samaritan 2

GO AND DO LIKEWISE

(Luke 10.25-37)

"Go and do likewise".

An elderly woman lived in Hatfield. She suffered from the advanced stages of Alzheimers disease and was cared for by her husband. Day after day, he watched her rocking backwards and forwards and listened to the same incomplete sentences uttered time and time again. He washed her; dressed her, fed her and watched over her to ensure no harm came to her in her confused state of mind.

As he watched, he recalled the happier times they had spent together, but she seldom showed any sign of recognition. Although he knew her as his wife of 50 years standing, she knew him as a complete stranger.

By chance, a priest called one day, but because she was not a Roman Catholic, he departed, never to return.

So likewise, a member of the Anglican Church called, but because she lived just outside the parish, he departed, never to return.

But a German woman, against whose nation the husband had fought during the last war, called, and when she saw her, she had compassion. She invited her to come along to a nearby weekly support group, since there was room, and arranged for the necessary transport.

Now, at least for a few hours each week, the husband was able to leave his self-imposed prison cell and go out and do some shopping and meet up with some of his former workmates, without having to hurry back home.

I suspect that that story has a familiar ring about it. It is not unlike the story of the Good Samaritan.

That story is very familiar to all of us - perhaps too familiar. There is an awful danger that we see it in only purely human terms of encouraging people to be good and kind to one another. Now there is nothing wrong with this but this is merely the outcome of our belief in God. First and foremost, the parable of the Good Samaritan is about God and the "go do likewise" is our response to that image of God which it presents.

If we are not to get lost in the craft of the story teller, it is important that it be placed in the right context. It was told in response to a question from a bright young lawyer who not only believed that eternal life was something that could only be experienced in the future, but more importantly, that it was something that could be earned.

To a certain extent, he already knew part of the answer before he asked the question. He was already aware that one's love of God finds expression in one’s love towards other people.

However, following the teaching of the Jewish Rabbis, he believed that loving God was essentially about keeping certain commandments. Since he was obviously a busy person, he did not want to waste time in keeping commandments which were not necessary. So he tries to define the word "neighbour". In other words, he regards the word "neighbour" as a term of legal liability and wanted to know who could be excluded from it.

Jesus refuses to enter into the debate. As far as he is concerned, it is simply the wrong question. The proper question is “To whom can I be neighbour?"; and the answer is, “To anyone whose need constitutes a claim upon my love". It is neighbourliness, not neighbourhood, that makes a neighbour.

In short, Jesus is concerned about the development or cultivation of an inner attitude or disposition, rather than the observance of restrictive regulations. And the reason for this is the nature and character of the God which he seeks to make known through his words and actions.

God's nature is that of love which expresses itself towards humankind as being spontaneous, unlimited and unconditional.

It is spontaneous because it can do no other than respond to human need. This is clearly illustrated by Jesus, who when presented with a person, or persons in need, could do no other but respond. So he feeds the hungry, gives sight to the blind, cures the leper, and enables the paralytic to walk. Likewise the Good Samaritan responds immediately to the man in the ditch without consulting his filofax to see if he can fit the person into his busy schedule.

It is also unlimited because God does not carefully measure out how much he can afford to give. Again, this is clearly illustrated by Jesus who does not measure out his love towards people as a parent seeks to ration out sweets to a child. He gives whatever is called for in a particular situation. His love knows no limits. Likewise, the Good Samaritan pours in oil and wine, places the victim upon his own beast, provides accommodation for him without any thought as to whether he can afford it.

Finally, the love of God is unconditional. We never read of Jesus offering to help a person provided they do this and that. Likewise the Good Samaritan does not refuse help because the injured person is not of his race. Rather he offers help without any strings attached.

Yes, God's nature and character of love, as revealed through the ministry of Jesus, and that of the Good Samaritan is spontaneous, unlimited and unconditional.

It is when I place myself in the ditch beside the road from Jerusalem to Jericho and experience God's love bestowed on me, so freely; so generously and so undeservedly, that I find I can do no other than to "go and do likewise", not in order to earn favours from God, but in order to share my love for Him. As the hymn writer says:

"Love so amazing, so divine: demands my soul, my life, my all".