To cut right into the heart of his invitation to love one's neighbors and to love one's enemies, Jesus tells this parable. Are we capable of breaking social norms, expectations or boundaries, to help someone or care for someone we are supposedly expected not to? On the other hand, are we able to receive help and support from someone who you are not supposed to receive help from? Who, in your culture, is an "other?" That is, someone you are not supposed to associate with?
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The Parable of the Good Samaritan
(from Godly Play® storytelling - see Godly Play® links to purchase storytelling materials, and to learn about the Godly Play® approach, and how to receive training.) There was once someone who did such amazing things and said such wonderful things that people followed him. As they followed him they heard him speaking of many things. Sometimes people asked him questions. One day a person asked him what the most important thing in life is. The person he asked said, “You already know.” “That is true. I do. It is to love God and to love people just like they are your neighbors.” The person paused a while and thought. He then asked another question, “But who is my neighbor?” The person he asked then told this parable. “There was once someone who went from Jerusalem down to Jericho. He was attacked by robbers. They hurt him, took everything that he had, and left him by the side of the road. “There was also a priest of the temple who went on the road from Jerusalem down to Jericho. He came upon the person who had been hurt, had everything taken from him, and had been left by the side of the road. But the priest went to the other side and went along his way. “There was also someone else who worked at the temple who went from Jerusalem down to Jericho. He was one of the people who helped the priests. He was called a Levite. When the Levite came upon the person who had been hurt, had everything taken from him, he went to the other side, and he went along his way. “There also was a person who went on the road who did not live in Jerusalem. He was visiting from a country called Samaria. The people in Samaria did not like the people in Jerusalem, and the people in Jerusalem did not like the people from Samaria. “When the stranger came upon the person who had been hurt, had everything taken from him, the stranger went to him. “The stranger put medicine on the places where the person was hurt. He put his coat on him. He then put him on his donkey and took him to a place to spend the night. The stranger even stayed with him all night, and in the morning he gave the innkeeper enough money for him to stay there until he was well.” |
REFLECTION QUESTIONS
- Which part of the story did you find the most important? Which part of the story resonated with you?
- Who is the neighbor to the person who was hurt?
- What would happen if the people in the parable were women? What would happen if the people in the parable included children?
- What experiences have you had that is close to this story?
- Where do you find yourself in this story? Which part of the story is about you?
- Notice moments in your journey received help from someone you would not expect to provide help. Also notice moments when you provided help particularly to someone you would normally not offer help to.
