Good Samaritan?

I don’t very often post two days in a row; I usually try to give a bit of time between my posts. But I had to share this today.

Many of us are familiar with the biblical story of the Good Samaritan…but here’s a quick refresher.

A man was traveling a dangerous road between Jerusalem and Jericho. He was robbed, beaten, and left for dead. A religious leader going down that same road saw him…but then hurried on his way without doing anything about him. Another religious leader came along a little later and saw the injured man. He also hurried by without doing anything. A third man came along—a member of a different ethnicity and culture. He also saw the man, but instead of hurrying by, he stopped to help. He bandaged the man’s wounds, put him on his donkey, and carefully took him to an inn where he apparently regularly stayed. He told the innkeeper to take care of the wounded man and left money to pay for his care, also telling the innkeeper that he would cover any additional costs when he came back.

He was the good guy. He actually took the time to see what had happened and helped someone in need.

So why am I talking about the Good Samaritan today? Because it’s directly related to a news story from a few days ago. Jordan Neely, a homeless man who was identified as one of the top 50 homeless in need of significant help in New York City, was yelling at passengers on the New York Subway. He didn’t appear to be threatening anyone, just being noisy. A 24-year-old Marine decided to step in and put Neely in a chokehold, which ended up causing Neely’s death.

Florida governor DeSantis has called that Marine a “good Samaritan” in a recent interview on MSNBC. Really? As the interviewer, Mehdi Hasan, said this: “I’ve read the Gospel of Luke, the parable of the good Samaritan who helps the injured traveler after the priest and another man failed to do so….I don’t remember the good Samaritan choking the traveler to death.”

This mis-reading of that parable is a prime example of the need for biblical literacy…of knowing what the Bible says and also understanding the context and point of its stories. Unfortunately, too many of us seem to know the vague outlines…perhaps a phrase or two…and trot it out when we want to make a point, not caring that what we are doing is in direct opposition to what is actually being shared.

When I see stories like this, I think of the shortest verse in the Bible—and how appropriate it is to what we see far too often today.

“Jesus wept.”

Going, they were healed…

For those of us who were raised in the Christian tradition, sometimes Bible stories seem so familiar we miss something significant in them.

One of those stories occurs in Luke 17:11-19–the healing of ten lepers. It reads this way in The Message:

“It happened that as he made his way toward Jerusalem, he crossed over the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered a village, ten men, all lepers, met him. They kept their distance but raised their voices, calling out, ‘Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!’

^“Taking a good look at them, he said, ‘Go, show yourselves to the priests.'”

“They went, and while still on their way, became clean. One of them, when he realized that he was healed, turned around and came back, shouting his gratitude, glorifying God. He kneeled at Jesus’ feet, so grateful. He couldn’t thank him enough—and he was a Samaritan.

“Jesus said, ‘Were not ten healed? Where are the nine? Can none be found to come back and give glory to God except this outsider?’ Then he said to him, ‘Get up. On your way. Your faith has healed and saved you.’”

There are several things that are important in this story, but what has really struck me is the verse that says “They went, and while still on their way, became clean.” Jesus didn’t heal them while they were standing there, waiting. They had to act in faith–to start to go to show themselves to the priests, even as they were still leprous, but it was while they were on that journey that the healing took place.

What a powerful statement!

I deal with an autoimmune disease and have for almost 50 years. One of the challenges I have is that I sometimes have issues that make it necessary to quickly find a bathroom–and that is not always possible. Stress makes those situations worse–and so sometimes, even though it’s been something I really want to do, I’ve found it easier to just stay at home.

Have I prayed? You bet! And yes, I believe I have received a healing–that’s a story for another post, but the bathroom issues have remained.

The pandemic in many ways has made it easier to almost become a hermit, but that’s not what I want. There are activities I want to participate in with my family…concerts and services I want to attend.

And so, even as I continue to pray, I am also doing my best to live in the attitude of “Going, they were healed.” Taking an active part in my healing rather than simply standing around, waiting.

Is it easy? No. The concern is still there. But as I’m discovering (again) the importance of being an active participant in the process, I’m finding it possible to participate in those activities. Deep breathing…repeating that statement…whatever it takes to remind me that I’m not alone in this healing process–and that it is possible.

Some may say it’s simply a case of mind over matter. That may be, but I choose to believe that the One who created us has given us those abilities and asks us to use them, and so…rather than stand or sit around waiting for something to happen, I am trying to live in the mindset of “Going, they were healed” on a daily basis.