A pulpit. A priest. A
sermon. We are just at the end of the Gospel reading, and so we
have a pregnant pause before the priest begins his sermon. He
shuffles papers with tremendous gravity. When he speaks, it is
with a mellifluence and grandiosity that does not quite hide a
southern drawl.
PRIEST
In today's gospel we heard the tale of the good Samaritan as told
by Jesus Christ our Lord.
(Pause)
What can we learn from the
tale of the good Samaritan? It's about charity, isn't it? Isn't
that what we've all come to understand from the good Samaritan?
Is this not what our Lord Jesus Christ was trying to tell us?
That there are TIMES in
our lives when we will be called upon to take off our coat and
GIVE to another? That there are those less FORTUNATE than we,
and that it is our DUTY to care for them, as good Christians?
And also that we shall not
JUDGE this tired soul, this poor traveler beset upon by robbers.
We shall not judge him by the clothes he wears or the way he smells
or the color of his skin! Yes, EVEN IF he is a Negro.
(pause)
Is this not the ESSENCE
of charity?
(Pause)
For we understand that the
victimized traveler is no more responsible for his sad predicament
than the derelict. No more responsible than the Negro for the
color of his skin.
NO MORE... responsible than
the young man who succumbs to the wiles of an UNHOLY young sexpot.
For though their evil offspring may be Satan's own, we are NOT
here to judge him for his sin, no! We must be charitable!
We must have pity!
So sayeth the Lord.
(Pause)
I have often wondered...
what IS a Samaritan? The word takes on a different meaning now
than it did in Jesus's time. The good Samaritan in the gospel
was a Samarite, from the land of Samaria.
Let me tell you a story.
(Pause)
I took the liberty of examining
a map the other day. I checked the Near East, the Far East, Middle
East and the West. I could not FIND the land of Samaria anywhere!
And I most certainly did not find any Samaritan Samarites from
the land of Samaria. Now WHY do you suppose that is?
Huh?
Because the land of Samaria
is GONE, that's why! They gave it away! Why? Because they were
all Samaritans!
Sure, once or twice they
might come across poor soul who's in genuine need. But all it
would take is one beggar to say to himself, "hey." You
know? "Hey, there could be somethin' to this. Heck, I could
make some serious money off of these here Samaritans."
Pretty soon, people are
standing around wondering whatever happened to the land of Samaria.
So is THIS the wise message
that our Lord Jesus Christ wishes to impart to us?
What can we learn from this?
(Pause)
The Lord admonishes us to
love our neighbor, and as God-fearing servants of His glory we
must indeed love our neighbor. But, ALL our neighbors? I mean,
let's be careful about this. Let us take another look at some
of our so-called neighbors, shall we?
Is your neighbor the homeless
drug user who chooses to live high off of YOUR donations and burden
society and steal your tax dollars?
How 'bout the lazy Negro,
or the thieving Mexican? The scantily-clad harlot?
Is your neighbor the communist,
or the Muslim, or the Frenchman? Or the abortion doctor?
Is your neighbor the Jew
who does not BELIEVE in the one, true, and holy God? Heck, for
all we know the land of Samaria is now called Israel!
I ask you, are THESE "people"
your neighbors?
Now you may be thinking
that this is NOT the spirit of charity, and to this I say LOOK
at the BIBLE! It's right THERE! I'm not the one telling you this.
This is Jesus Christ! This is the word of God! So get yourself
a map, open up the Bible, and hearken His word! LEARN from the
tale of the foolish Samaritan!
Praise Jesus! Amen!
(Pause)
There will be a second collection
today for the Renovate Our Rectory fund. The new carpeting goes
down next week, so please, be as generous as you can. Thank you.