Thought For The Week 13 July 2025

Today’s ‘lesson’, from Luke 10: 25-37, the Parable of the good Samaritan, seems especially appropriate for the times we are living in. There seems to be a lot of division, lurking just under the surface of polite conversation. We see this in large scale global events like the war in Ukraine and the Israel/ Palestinian conflict. There is not always agreement about who is ‘in the right’ in these conflicts. Was Russia provoked to attack Ukraine? Is Israel justified in bombing Gaza? Was it right for America to destroy a nuclear facility in Iran? Some folks have very strong opinions about these things, stoked by alternative narratives than what is presented in mainstream media sources. The result can be greater division and polarisation and with it uncertainty about what to think.

When Jesus made a Samaritan the hero of his story to demonstrate what true neighbourliness looked like, he was being deliberately provocative. If we substituted Palestinian for Samaritan, we would get a similar effect. The legal expert wanted to define more clearly who is the neighbour. He wanted to know where his obligations began and ended. But Jesus upends this, not by defining who our neighbours are, but by clearly  defining what ‘loving your neighbour as yourself’ looks like. Words like mercy, compassion, generosity, practical help, going out of your way, are good descriptions.

Next time we are tempted to takes sides in an issue perhaps we would be wise to pause and consider if we are following the example of the good Samaritan.

Nga mihi,

Brent