The Good Samaritan

Luke 10: 30 to 37

“A MAN was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers.

They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead.

A Samaritan, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him.

He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine.

Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him.

The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper.

‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’

How often do we see people in distress in our country and just walk on by without a second glance.

Sometime ago I had the opportunity to help a stranger in Glasgow.

As I walked down Buchanan Street, (one of the busiest shopping streets in the area) I saw a man trying to sell the ‘Big Issue’ but no one was stopping, I cut across to buy a copy from him and got involved in a conversation.

It turned out that he was desperate to reach his target that day because he had promised his seven year old son that he could have his play station back which he had pawned two weeks previous to help buy food for his family.

It was a heart-breaking story of how he had lost his job the year before and it was a real struggle to make ends meet each week.

I put my £2 coin back in my purse and got out a £20 note, his reaction was one of disbelief that a stranger would feel compassion; he hugged me with tears in his eyes and a hope that he might just reach his target.

I often think of this man and his family, it was a small thing that I did but it meant so much more to him.

There have been other opportunities to help others less fortunate than myself during the last year but he comes top of my list.