BELFAST RB BOOKLET 2020 - Flipbook - Page 21
Ci t y of Belf ast Grand Bl ack Chapt er - Dem onst rat i on Bookl et 2020
THE GOOD SAMARITAN ..
In publishing our annual publication and as we
commemorate this 75th anniversary year since the
ending of World War II, let us ingratiate our pages with
one of those abiding stories from the Holy Bible that
should also be an endearing guide for all of humanity.
The parable of the Good Samaritan, about a
traveller who is attacked by robbers, on the
highway from Jerusalem to Jericho, then
stripped of his clothing, beaten and left for
dead alongside the road, is probably one of
the best known biblical lessons that our Lord
alluded to and related within the Gospel of
Saint Luke Chapter 10: Verses 25 - 37.
Undoubtedly there is hardly anyone,
young and not so young, who hasn't heard
the story of how that first, a passing priest
and then a Levite, comes by but both
avoided in assisting the badly injured man.
Finally, a travelling Samaritan comes across
the injured man. Though historically both
Samaritans and Jews despised each other
back then, the former feels that it is his duty to
help the badly beaten traveller.
Jesus is described as telling the parable
in response to the question from a lawyer
who asked of Him .. 'and who is my
neighbour?'
In response, Christ relates the parable, the
conclusion of which being that the neighbourly
figure in the
story, and the
person
who
shows his own kindness and mercy to the
injured man, is .. the Good Samaritan.
Some Christians interpreted the parable
allegorically, with the Good Samaritan
being representative of the Lord Jesus
Christ, who saves the sinful soul, whilst
there are others however who wilfully
discount this allegory as unrelated to the
parable's original meaning and see this
moral lesson as exemplifying the ethics of
our Saviour himself.
The parable has inspired many paintings,
various sculptures, poetry, photography and
even a film, albeit a blasphemous satire.
The phrase .. Good Samaritan .. in
meaning someone who helps a helpless
stranger whereby and deriving directly
from it many hospitals, welfare groups and
charitable organisations across the globe
have also adopted this humane 'title'.
This is the text within the Gospel according to Saint Luke - And, behold, a certain lawyer
stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? He said unto
him, what is written in the law? How readest thou? And he answering said, Thou shalt love the
Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy
mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do,
and thou shalt live. But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, and who is my
neighbour? And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho,
and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed,
leaving him half dead. And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he
saw him, he passed by on the other side. And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came
and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed,
came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, and went to him, and
bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to
an inn, and took care of him. And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and
gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest
more, when I come again, I will repay thee. Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was
neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? And he said, He that shewed mercy on him.
Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.
IN MEMORY OF THE FALLEN - 19 - AND THE FUTURE OF THE LIVING