“The Gospel of Luke: The Good Samaritan”

    Jesus responded to the religious lawyers questions with a story. I want to share with you a story that I have heard today as well:
    There once was a seminary ethics class that was preparing for their big final exam. It was a large chunk of their grade and students were stressing out about it - they needed this class to graduate from seminary. The day of the exam came and all of the students had to walk the same direction to get to the building the classroom was located in - past an ally. As each student walked past they heard loud moaning coming from the ally. It was clear that someone was badly hurt. But most students had the final on their mind - rushing past the ally, assuming that someone else would stop and check on that person. Who were they anyway? They didn't have medical training and they were going to be late. Some students thought about calling 911, but that would make them late for their exam, so they left that for someone else as well.
    A few students did stop and tended to the man, who indeed was in need of care. They knew that meant that they would be late, and possibly fail the exam, but this was too important to ignore.
    At the end of the class period, the professor told the students to rip up the exams they had been working so hard on, and explained that the real ethics exam was what happened in that ally that day. Those who walked past failed, while those who took care of the man in need passed.
    I can't remember where I heard this story from, but it is one that has often stuck with me. Jesus doesn't ask us to be good neighbors when it is convent or when it is someone we know and like. Jesus invite us to have a Christ like heart in all times and places-  a heart that is open to respond.