Being a Good Samaritan

Story:

"A group of religion instructors were taking a summer course on the life of the Savior and focusing particulary on the parables.

"When the final exam time came the students arrived at the classroom to find a note that the exam would be given in another building across campus. Moreover, the note said, it must be finished within the two-hour time period that was starting almost at that moment.

"The students hurried across campus. On the way they passed a little girl crying over a flat tire on her new bike. An old man hobbled painfully toward the library with a cane in one hand, spilling books from the stack her was trying to manage with the other. On a bench by the union building sat a shabbily dressed bearded man in obvious distress.

"Rushing into the other classroom, the students were met by the professor, who announced they had all flunked the final exam.

"The only true test of whether they understood the Savior's life and teaching, her said, was how they treated people in need.

"Their weeks of study at the feet of a capable progesor had taught them a great deal of what Christ had said and done.

" In their hase to finishe the technicalities of the course, however, they failed to recognize the application represented by the three scenes that had been deliberately staged. They learned the letter but not the spirit. Their neglect of the little girl and the two men showed that the profound message of the course had not entered into their inward parts.

"We must at all times search our own souls and discover what we really are. Our real character, much as we would wish, cannot be hidden. It shines from within us transparenyl. Attempts to deceive others only deceive ourselves. We are often like the emperor in the fairy tale who thought he was arrayed in beautiful garments when he was in fact unclothed." - James E. Faust

Previous to the class a girl was outside the classroom, looking like she was having a bad day. Turns out of teacher had put her there on purpose to see how many people would stop and talk to her, ask her what was wrong, anything caring. I think only 4-5 people did. This is a class around 20-35 people. Our teacher asked the ones who did not stop why they did not stop. Some people said that they thought the girl would think they were weird. Others said they did not see her. One boy said that he saw her and me laughing and thought nothing was wrong.

Be a good samaritan-

Luke 10: 30- 42

30 And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.

31 And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.

32 And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.

33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,

34 And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.

35 And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.

36 Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?

37 And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.

38 ¶ Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.

39 And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word.

40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.

41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:

42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

Just some info on some of the people in the story.

Priests- Were the direct descendants of Aaron and were responsible for the temporal welfare of their fellowmen.

Levites- Were an honored tribe, having been given the priesthood, and were responsible to bless the people.

Samaritans- Were half-heathen with mixed blood from Israelite and gentile ancestors. Apostate worshippers of Jehovah, they were detested by the Jews. They were their bitter opponents and considerd enemies.

The Priest and the Levite were being I guess jerks. They were responsible and the levites were given the priesthood, but the Priest did not help the man in need and either did the Levite. The Samaritan did though, even though him and the man in need were considered enemies. How amazing. I think that all of us should be like the Samaritan.

At the end of the class period we were all given a Band-Aid. We had to put it somewhere on our bodies. I put mine around my finger. We could not take off the Band-Aid until we helped someone in need.