Three people were filled with the light of compassion. One was a priestess. Another a Levite. The third, a Samaritan. They saw suffering around them in Jerusalem and they wanted to help allieviate the suffering. People were hungry, naked, sick and some were beaten.
The priestess spoke with a medical doctor, saying, "Have you seen the suffering? My compassion urges me to act. How should we help?" The medical doctor replied, "You do not have the proper degree to help. There is nothing you can do. Help is the work of medical doctors who have been trained and certified." The priestess heard the medical doctor and went home.
The Levite approached a wealthy land owner, saying, "Have you seen the suffering? My compassion urges me to act. How should we help?" The wealthy land owner replied, "You have no organization to help. You have no tax status that will benefit me in giving money. I already give money that helps the suffering." The Levite heard the wealthy land owner and went home.
The Samaritan approached a faith leader, saying, "Have you seen the suffering? My compassion urges me to act. How can we help?" The faith leader replied, "You are not from our community. You do not understand the realities of the suffering we face. Your help is not welcome here." The Samaritan heard the faith leader and went home.
Then a certain man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who both stripped him and beat him, and departed leaving him half dead. By chance, a certain priestess was going down that way. When she saw him, she was filled with the light of compassion. She wanted to help but remembered that words of the medical doctor. "You do not have the proper degree to help. There is nothing you can do." So, the priestess ignored the light of compassion and kept walking.
In the same way, a Levite came too. When he came to the place, he was filled with the light of compassion. He wanted to help but remembered the words of the wealthy land owner. "You have no organization to help. I already give money that helps the suffering." So, the Levite ignored the light of compassion and kept walking.
But a certain Samaritan, as he traveled, came to the same place. He wanted to help but remembered the words of the faith leader, "You are not from our community. You do not understand the realities of the suffering we face. Your help is not welcome."
The Samaritan looked for the faith leader of the community of which he was not a part, but no one was present. He looked for a medical doctor but no one was present. He looked for any signs of improved conditions provided by wealthy landowners, but there were none.
The Samaritan saw the realities of the suffering and he understood.
He heeded the light of compassion. He bound up the wounds of the man and brought him to an inn and took care of him. And his help was welcome.
