The parable of the Good Samaritan is a parable of two perspectives. Perspectives are obvious in responses, reactions to situations and emergencies. One’s character can be understood when he reacts to a situation. Reactions are based on one’s experiences and attitudes. We see two responses to the man who lies beaten on the road. The scenario brings to one’s mind the picture of a student at a dissection. The candidate is given a specimen and is watched how she/he handles it. Similarly, it appears as if a slot of time in eternity and a stretch of road from Jerusalem to Jericho have been presented before three individuals and God as an examiner draws the certain high in heaven and watches how every one is going to handle the situation.

When the Levite and the priest walked that way the angelic choir would have chuckled anticipating immediate help to the wounded man. God sometimes de-masks people in isolation when there is no audience to check what lies hidden in the heart. They who would have mouthed flowery prayers before avoid congregation, went the other way ignoring the scene that called for instantaneous compassion. People who are used to carefully considered calculated responses, cannot react spontaneously to situations that demand feelings based on genuine responses. Everyone comes across such slots of time with a stimulus that demands immediate attention. This is where one’s presence of active faith or its absence will be disclosed. Backed by an active faith, the Samarian rose to the occasion and brought a smile on the face of God who was watching the scene with great expectation. He was not let down by His child who was deeply rooted in what He taught as against those verbose religious leaders who professed religion but practiced none.

God wants us to be the doers of the Word.

Dr. (Mrs.) Edriana Jeyasingh