A Kabaleyan’s Thoughts…

The Samaritan Heart

By S. Bill Jimenez

A RETIRED FILIPINO from Pangasinan went to a San Francisco bank one Monday morning to deposit a check.  Being early he was second to the front in a long line of customers.  Suddenly, an old white lady came in and announced, “I’m in a hurry.  Will someone help me?  I have to catch the next bus.”  Everybody looked at her and then a bank employee addressed her, “Just join in the line.”

The old Filipino guy quipped, “Ma’am, you can take my place.”  Then he went at the back of the line as the lady took his place and thanked him profusely.

Why do some people help others, even total strangers?  We have heard of stories where people even risked their lives to help strangers in need.  They sacrifice their time and resources to help.  What’s this altruistic spirit ingrained in people’s heart?

The Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) may help us unravel this mystery of the human soul.  I’ve heard this parable a number of times as a basis of a sermon by preachers.  They emphasize three types of people: First, the robbers, whose philosophy is: “What’s yours is mine when I want it.”  Second, the priest and the Levite, whose philosophy is: “What’s mine is mine, I don’t care about your need.”

And third, is the Good Samaritan, whose philosophy is: “What’s mine is yours when you need it.”

Obviously, the best philosophy is that of the Good Samaritan: helping people in need.

That’s in conformity with God’s will who created us in his own image of love.

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