The first guy coming along the road was a priest. He was in a state of ritual purity at the moment ~ in full adherence to the law. He had to go on his way past the Samaritan lest he violate the law. He could help the man later, but not at that moment.
The next guy along was a Levite, also required to maintain a state of ritual purity and unable to help at that moment. He went ahead down the road. He might help the man later but not at that moment.
Finally, here comes the guy who is outside the law of the Jews ~ the Samaritan ~ and he helps the man.
We all know the rest of the story. No, the Samaritan is not Jesus ~ he is just a man ~ but he's a man who knows that when you sacrifice yourself on behalf of others, you do your best. That's why he pays for the man's care after taking him to a place of rest and safety.
This is just another recitation of the First Fruits Doctrine handed down since the beginning of time. Keeping the law and adhering to its rituals doesn't meet the standard.
When we come to abortion some of us are kept from doing what we must ~ save a life ~ by the law. Others because of our social status ~ who are we, after all, to challenge the great professors of the universities who know all there is to know about everything yet know nothing of love, but we don't challenge them.
Finally, we are put to the test ~ just what are we going to do. Are we going to put ourselves on the line and step around the law and take the risks and save the life.
As everyone knows more than half of those aborted each year would have been among the First Born. And yet we allow them to be murdered by the cannibals and butchers in our midst.
At some time we must put an end to the murder and we'll have to put our own lives, fortunes and sacred honor on the line to get it done.
When we come to abortion some of us are kept from doing what we must ~ save a life ~ by the law. Others because of our social status ~ who are we, after all, to challenge the great professors of the universities who know all there is to know about everything yet know nothing of love, but we don’t challenge them.
I fully understand the story of the Good Samaritan and your explanation was excellent. Perhaps another fitting parable is the return of the ‘Prodigal’ son. The father forgave him without question and I think one of the reasons is grossly over-looked. Yes, he loved his son, but I think there was more to it than that.
We all have our lines drawn in our hearts of what we will or will not do. Sometimes we burn bridges unknowingly and it is a struggle to come back. Our lives are changed for better or worse. But the real lesson comes not from the act, but the reaction. If one can honestly look back and say with all things considered, and all things being the same; that they would do the same thing again, then they are truly being honest with themselves.
We have to be honest with ourselves before we have a hope of gaining forgiveness from God. If we cannot forgive ourselves; how can we accept His.
In my mind it is better to reach out like the father who reached out to his long lost son, because that father knew well that whatever the son did, it was all that he could do.
I commend Steven for speaking out. But not a senseless driver who after one to many kills or maims someone else just because he was having a good time. Now that is SENSELESS. How many of us are willing to admit that they have driven home from an evening out, knowing full well that they shouldn’t.
I know I have once or twice, but never blind. I wonder how many have died on American roads since this thread was thread was started?