The Parable of the Good (Fill in the Blank)

You’ve probably heard the parable of the good Samaritan. It was a story, told by Jesus, about a man who was beaten and left to die on the side of the road.

In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn in Jericho and took care of him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.'
"Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?"
The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him." Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise."

In our society, this parable has lost its meaning because Samaritan has actually come to mean “good person.” To those listening to the tale at Jesus' feet, they were religious rivals, not unlike Muslims, Jews, and Christians. They weren’t just rivals, they were despised.
To give the parable a modern twist, let’s try filling in the blank. What group of people do you hate the most? Okay, you don’t hate anyone. Who do you dislike a little? Who makes you afraid, angry, or a little miffed? Who wouldn’t you like to meet in a dark alley? Who would you most hate to be stuck with on a desert island? A black person? A white person? A democrat or republican? Maybe a homosexual, or a fundamentalist. A Yankees fan? (Sorry, I couldn’t resist.)
Now fill in the blank.
What if you were the one who had been robbed and beaten? You’re lying on the side of the road, too weak to move. Someone walks by. It’s someone you really admire. A great republican or democrat leader, someone who has said great words. A high authority in your church, known for his or her great sermons about compassion. But… they cross to the other side, whistling and pretending they don't see you.

The next person is (someone from a culture or religion you dislike.) He’s touching you. You imagine that he hasn’t washed in a week. This person is helping you, when you are utterly vulnerable.

Can you picture this person cleaning your wounds, putting you in his car, and spending his hard-earned money on you?

This is your neighbor. This is the person Jesus wants you to love.

Peace, love & more love.