Good Samaritan cartoon

True compassion is more than flinging a coin to a beggar.

In reflection upon the Parable of the Good Samaritan, the time is upon us to more faithfully critique the policies and procedures that impact our neighbors, and in doing so, cooperate with advocacy organizations that assist in the countless efforts directed at structural change. Instead of allowing the robbers and innkeepers of our world to profit from modern day “good Samaritans” who focus solely on responding to the latest crisis, we recognize that the entire road to Jericho must be transformed so that no one is beaten and robbed. In the words of Martin Luther King, Jr., “True compassion is more than flinging a coin to a beggar. It comes to see that an edifice which produces beggars needs restructuring.” And so, while charity must continue because of the injustices of our present day and age, our ultimate goal is to reach a point of community companionship in which such acts are no longer required. In the mean time, may we be tormented by the ideal of a common good, and by God’s grace, may we trust that justice will indeed prevail.
http://www.patheos.com/blogs/faithforward/2013/07/when-robbers-and-innkeepers-profit-from-good-samaritans/ 

It would have to be a Muslim

It would have to be a Muslim.

The one who nobody in the audience liked,

or had any time for.

The one we are suspicious of,

uncertain of how she/he might fit in.

Dressed strangely,

living according to another set of rules;

whose motivations we question.

Praying in different ways,

refusing to eat our foods;

a sometimes guest

who ignores the polite conventions

we have so carefully constructed

over these past centuries.

It would have to be a Muslim,

who, when Jesus tells his story today,

about the one who took a chance

and stopped to help the wounded man,

is made into the neighbour-hero.

The Good Muslim,

who causes us all to gasp,

as she/he is offered

as love’s shining exemplar.

© Ken Rookes 2013

Good Samaritan Rap

    

One day there came to Jesus a dude who knew the law,

who tried to trick him; "Man," he said, "You know the score!

I want to find my life in God, tell me what to do!"

Jesus said, "You've read the Scriptures, so you should know what is true;

so tell me what they say!" The man opened up his mouth

and said, "Love your God and love your neighbour as yourself."

"You've got it right," said Jesus: "Now you've really made the scene!"

"But who, then, is my neighbour?" said the man. "What does it mean?"

He said, "You gotta love your neighbour!"

Yeah, but tell us what that means.                     (Twice)

So Jesus told a story, he said, "Once upon a time

a man was going down the road from big Jerusal-ime

to Jericho; sun was shining, he was feeling good,

'til some robbers leapt out of the trees and hit him with some wood.

They took his clothes and money, left him lying in the sun,

all a-bleeding and a bruis-ed, soon his life would all be gone.

He wondered as he lay there whether anyone would come

and render him assistance, yeah, he sure did hope for some.

"Well it happened that a holy man was headed down that way,

but when he say the wounded man, he didn't pause or stay -

he crossed the road and walked on by upon the other side;

he didn't seem to care whether the poor man lived or died.

Another man, a Levite, well respected in the town

came down the road and saw the man and gave a little frown.

He thought, 'I'd like to stop and help, but time I can't afford.'

And quickly moved a few steps to the far side of the road.

"Well the people of Samaria were like fans of Collingwood

all the other people thought that they were really not much good.

So when one came on down the road the battered man thought, 'No,

there's not much chance that he will stop.' But little did he know!

The Samaritan felt sorry, he bandaged up the man,

he put him on his donkey, yeah, he gave him a real hand.

He took him to a pub and gave some money to the Landlord.

'Look after him,' he said. 'I'll pay you back, I give my word'"

Then Jesus asked the teacher of the law, "What would you say;

which man acted like a neighbour to the injured man that day?"

He said, "The man who stopped to help, the Samaritan by name."

"That's right!" said Jesus, "He's the one; now go and do the same!"

You know you gotta be a neighbour

Yeah, 'cause that’s what it all means.                (Three times)

© Ken Rookes

Samaritan

Samaritan

I was glad to turn away

from the midday sun,

to head north to Jericho;

pleased to be leaving behind

the heavy dust of Jerusalem

and its superior people.

I am always polite to Hebrews,

one cannot avoid them altogether,

especially when one is in business.

I nod, smile, flatter, strike the deal, and move on,

knowing that behind their equally polite smiles,

they are even more relieved than I

to see me depart.

The man was lying by some rocks,

having dragged his bruised and bleeding body

into the little shade.

He’d been there for some time,

or so it appeared,

his only company

an abundance of flies; the faithful many

who need no invitation

to make themselves welcome.

Stripped naked

with but a few leaves to maintain his dignity,

he could have been Samaritan, like me,

or one of them. In these moments all such questions

are an affront to God;

his blood was red,

so I stopped.

© Ken Rookes