I took this bleak picture on the way down from Jerusalem to Jericho during our pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Jericho is 700 feet below sea level; Jerusalem is 2500 feet above sea level. A traveler truly went "down" and we can imagine how much more bleak and dangerous the trip would have been for someone in the time of Jesus.
In Luke 10:25-37 Jesus tells the parable about a certain man making that journey who was attacked by bandits, stripped, beaten, and left half dead. Certain respectable religious people each "pass by on the other side."
The Samaritans were despised both socially and religiously. Jesus makes one of them the hero of his story. When the Samaritan sees the injured man he is moved with compassion and takes very good care of him, way beyond what might be expected of anybody. Jesus concludes, "You go and do the same."
No human being is to be beyond the reach of our love. Those of us who follow Jesus are often motivated by our faith to care for those who need us. But there are times when human compassion moves us to action. Someone who has no obvious faith may also be moved with compassion and take action.
Anytime any person goes beyond self-interest to help another they are being moved by the Divine within them. The Spirit is present and alive in people who never think about God, or darken the doors of churches.
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