All this political juggling has really highlighted the inability of professionals in power to stand up and do the right thing. The leaders of the Brexit campaign abandoned ship as soon as the votes were finalised, the prime minister whistled a tune and handed the country over like a half drunk cup of coffee to a women who has got the job by default. These professional people who are entrusted with decisions that effect every person in the UK aren’t really doing a great job.
Looking at the parable of the Good Samaritan we see how the unexpected person showed mercy and compassion to an unknown man. However there is more to this story, the person asking Jesus the initial question about inheriting eternal life, is described as an “expert in the law”. He is a professional, an expert, trying to test Jesus to see if Jesus is as knowledgable as he. Yet this expert did not know who his neighbour was! Was he a out of touch professional? Did he even get involved with the people outside of the court room?
Jesus uses this parable to show how people in power, people who are professionals with responsibilities actualy don’t behave in a fitting manner. As the poor man is lying on the floor, a priest walks by! Surely a priest, a professional in his faith would have mercy on this man. A Levite walks by too, a holy man, surely he must understand that he must love his neighbour. Sadly he doesn’t.
Jesus is holding these professionals into account, and we should pray that he does the same to our professionals, our politicians, our government to help them to think of everyone in this country not just about their parliamentary bubble.
And of course we need Jesus to hold us into account, can we live our lives like the Good Samaritan, can we help the homeless on the streets, elderly people who are lonely, a family who is poor, or do we walk around them because we go to church every Sunday and that is it. Being a Christian is a 24/7 role, it’s a chance every day to show everyone around us that God loves each and every one of us, and through us helping each other, by loving our neighbours, we can channel the love that Jesus gives to us to all his people.
Sitting at the well 
Hmmmm. Not sure about your judgements on this one, Amy. I think we are somewhat “poisened” in our underdstanding of events, and the people concerned in them, by the media. They have their own agenda – primarily to create news.
I think that there are bad apples in every barrel just as there are plenty of good ones. There are politicians who do not always appear to behave honourably and there are others who do the best they can in situations of which we have understandings.
I have no political affiliation but I do feel that Mrs May is being unfairly judged before she’s even started through a situation which was not of her choosing. Let’s wait and see whether she turns out to have the qualities of a Good Samaritan or a Levite.
I think Jesus was showing us that the most unexpected people are often the ones to show the greatest humanity and love for those you wouldn’t expect them to, rather than a critique of people in power. The biggest mistake of the people in the parable was to act with selfishness, thinking purely of their own safety.
As always, Jesus gives us a lot to ponder over in his parables – and undoubtedly therein are lessons for us all, whether we’re in positions of power or not.
LikeLike
Hi Pat, I can’t be correct all the time, in fact probably not a lot of the time, however I understand how the media works but they aren’t always poisonous, sometimes they get it right and speak out truth where it can’t be seen. Journalism is described as “watchdog” and studying it academically has allowed be to see the good and bad.
The beauty of parables is that Jesus lets us try to figure out what to make of the situations he presents us with. I believe that people in positions of authority should always try to keep their feet on the ground so they can remember what they are trying to achieve in the long term not just political brownie points with their peers. I’m not pleased with an unelected person sitting as PM and I don’t think other MPs should have abandoned ship. Jesus has great authority and always reminds those who also do to think on their actions. They too should behave like the Good Samaritan and not just rely on kind hearted people to pick up the pieces. I am tired of seeing governments whitewash over child poverty and change boundaries for asylum seekers and refugees. I believe through this parable we see how experts walk around the “situation” in this case the beaten man, however our experts are walking around the aftermath of Brexit and that doesn’t sit well with me.
Amy xx
LikeLike
Yes, I can see where you’re coming from in terms of elected representatives walking round difficult situations, especially those where the outcome wouldn’t go down well with the electorate, often for all the wrong reasons.
I think the situation of our new PM is a difficult one. We don’t, as a rule, elect our Prime Minister in this country. We elect a party and the party elects their leader. The fact that the new one hasn’t been elected is more to do with lack of others standing. But from a personal perspective, I think, for now, I’d rather someone was at the helm to try to stabilise our position in the world rather than put us through a General Election. Not only would it cost an absolute bomb – money which could be used in a much more effective way- but it would mean that we would be rudderless at a time when we really need some leadership. What I’d really like is that all parties came together to form a coalition of the best minds to work through, together, the very best for this country for our children and grandchildren. But, you and I both know, that is, sadly, highly unlikely.
LikeLike
Totally agree Pat xx
LikeLike