The Good Samaritan

Up, Down.

A central, maybe the central, Christian story - and not just Christian even. Connections into all of the formulations of the Golden Rule, into Good King Wenceslas, (no doubt) into colours of secular humanism, and even possibly the post Tommy Douglas NDP.

Lately I have been finding references in Charles Taylor's A Secular Age and David Cayley's The Rivers North of the Future: The Testament of Ivan Illich.

And enlightenment - Illich manages to explain for me the significance of being ressurected "in the flesh" which I have always sniggered at - quite a step.

Notions of "Social Imaginary", and the Church comprising a contiguous network of human touch.

Luke 10, 25-37:		Lucas 10, 25-37:
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.		E eis que certo homem, intérprete da Lei, se levantou com o intuito de pôr Jesus à prova e disse-lhe: Mestre, que farei para herdar a vida eterna? Então, Jesus lhe perguntou: Que está escrito na Lei? Como interpretas? A isto ele respondeu: Amarás o Senhor, teu Deus, de todo o teu coração, de toda a tua alma, de todas as tuas forças e de todo o teu entendimento; e: Amarás o teu próximo como a ti mesmo.
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?		Então, Jesus lhe disse: Respondeste corretamente; faze isto e viverás. Ele, porém, querendo justificar-se, perguntou a Jesus: Quem é o meu próximo?
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.		Jesus prosseguiu, dizendo: Certo homem descia de Jerusalém para Jericó e veio a cair em mãos de salteadores, os quais, depois de tudo lhe roubarem e lhe causarem muitos ferimentos, retiraram-se, deixando-o semimorto. Casualmente, descia um sacerdote por aquele mesmo caminho e, vendo-o, passou de largo. Semelhantemente, um levita descia por aquele lugar e, vendo-o, também passou de largo.
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.		Certo samaritano, que seguia o seu caminho, passou-lhe perto e, vendo-o, compadeceu-se dele. E, chegando-se, pensou-lhe os ferimentos, aplicando-lhes óleo e vinho; e, colocando-o sobre o seu próprio animal, levou-o para uma hospedaria e tratou dele. No dia seguinte, tirou dois denários e os entregou ao hospedeiro, dizendo: Cuida deste homem, e, se alguma coisa gastares a mais, eu to indenizarei quando voltar.
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.		Qual destes três te parece ter sido o próximo do homem que caiu nas mãos dos salteadores? Respondeu-lhe o intérprete da Lei: O que usou de misericórdia para com ele. Então, lhe disse: Vai e procede tu de igual modo.

Revelations 3, 20:		Apocalipsis 3, 20:
Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.		Eis que estou à porta e bato; se alguém ouvir a minha voz, e abrir a porta, entrarei em sua casa, e com ele cearei, e ele comigo.

Of course people use these stories for their own ends.

I take the idea that the Samaritan helped the Jew because he was touched, either by his own compassion or by the hand of God makes no difference. And I take the idea that this contact in the flesh means that we must be in the flesh to accomplish it. These ideas fasten to my very soul - who knows? I might die for them, can't say for sure.

But I could just as easily do a Samaritan-based apology for the Social Services people; saying that since the Samaritan left the denouement to the inn keeper, and paid him ... well you see what I mean.

Or not.

Down.