Can I get a Good Samaritan?

Luke 10:25-37, NIV

The Parable of the Good Samaritan

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?”

²⁶ “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”

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’^[a]; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’^[b]”

²⁸ “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”

²⁹ But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

³⁰ In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by 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, brought him to an inn and took care of him. ³⁵ The next day he took out two denarii^[c] 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.’

³⁶ “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”

³⁷ The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”

Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

 

I am no expert when it comes to international relations, specifically as it pertains to the governments around the world. So as I ventured to share my opinion on the crisis in Syria I ask that you read this knowing it comes from the eyes of a Christian minister.

 

I do not like war, never have never will. I believe that:

 

 

Hate begets Hate

 

 

Violence begets Violence

 

 

and

 

 

Love begets Love

 

 

I am among those Americans who are in disagreement that America should intervene in Syria with Violence; missile strikes BUT I am not one who feels we should do nothing. When I look at Syria I see the man in Luke's parable who is left half dead on the side of the rode. I see our country and others around the world as the Priest and the Levite. I long to see America as the Good Samaritan. I long to see the humanity of God's world cry out at the atrocities and do what we can to rescue those in need, those who are dying. I am very uncomfortable with us doing nothing. Luke tells us that Jesus calls us to care for the one in need. Our neighbor is one who is in need and Syria is in need.

Can I get a Good Samaritan?