The Parish Magazine March 2023

The Parish Magazine - March 2023 5
The associate vicar's letter
Dear Friends,
The parable of the Good Samaritan is one that many people are familiar with,
whether they have a Christian faith or not. The concept of the story is fairly
simple. While travelling from Jerusalem to Jericho, a man is attacked and left
badly wounded. Two people, a priest and a Levite, both from the same region as
the injured man, cross the road when they see him and leave him for dead. Then
along comes a Samaritan and helps the injured man, saving his life.
The context of this story, however, is not always fully understood. When we
hear this parable by itself it becomes just a moral story about doing the right
thing, but in its fuller context it challenges us about the way we treat people,
not only in our actions but also in the attitudes we hold. This story is about
‘otherness’ and Jesus uses this parable to challenge racial prejudice and make
people look beyond the parameters of their own world and world view, which is
something I believe we can still learn from today.
The parable is given in response to the question ‘who is my neighbour?’
Before he is asked this question, Jesus reminds his listeners that they should
love their neighbour. The moral of the story is the person who is the neighbour
to the injured man is in fact the Samaritan, not the people who were from the
same area as him. Samaritan people were disliked immensely by the people
from Jerusalem and the surrounding area and were looked down upon and
ostracised. Yet it was a Samaritan who chose to help the injured man, despite
knowing the preconceptions and prejudice that he and his people would have
held against him, just because of where he was from. In other words, the
Samaritans were ‘othered’.
US AND THEM?
‘Othering’ allows us to put in a gap between ‘us’ and ‘them’. At worst, it
dehumanises another group of people which we know that over the course of
history, even very recent history, has led to some atrocities being carried out. At
best, ‘othering’ can limit our world view; both preventing us from reaching out
and helping people and also allowing us to justify judging others because they
are not like ‘us’.
There will be many examples, some are more contentious issues than others,
but we don’t have to look too far from our own doorsteps to see the ‘othering’ of
people. Negatively stereotyping people because of their race or religion. Judging
people because their lives have been affected by addiction or homelessness.
Gossiping about people because of their family circumstances or employment
status.
No one likes to admit that they ‘other’ people but to some degree we have
all made quick judgements about people because we are all human. What we
can do, however, is to challenge ourselves and be honest with ourselves about
who we really believe is our neighbour. Is it all people? It is only the people who
don’t seem different to us or that we don’t fear. Regardless of our faith, I believe
that part of our humanity is a call to love one another and reach out to others
who are struggling. To challenge our stereotypes and prejudices so that we treat
people fairly and with compassion. We can all make a difference, both in our
actions and attitudes. We can all find ways to be a ‘Good Samaritan’ and we can
all challenge our own negative and judgemental attitudes.
COMPASSION AND SUPPORT
Jesus didn’t come to earth just for the well-educated, smartly dressed,
articulate or wealthy people. He didn’t come just for those who have made
good choices and have stability in their lives. He came to reach out to the
marginalised and to reach beyond social boundaries. I encourage us all to read
the parable of the Good Samaritan again. When have we been like the Levite or
priest and how can we show more compassion and support in the future? And
when have we been more like the Samaritan and how can we continue to show
that love in our communities both near and far?
With love and prayers, Kate