 Cornelis Cornelisz, van Haarlem 1627 |
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Cornelis Cornelisz, van Haarlem 1627 |
The Good Samaritan
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Table of Contents |
The Good SamaritanCornelis Cornelisz, van Haarlem 1627 Such a pleasant day The sun was shining And the walking was good I had money, food And a spring in my step. My journey From Jerusalem to Jericho Could be nothing… But pleasant. They came out of nowhere, Robbers, violent men Of greed and with no conscience. They beat and bloodied me, Leaving me, close to death. They stripped me Of my dignity, Of my belongings And my will to go on. How easy it was for them, I was vulnerable, And even naïve To be traveling alone, I was no contest For those who set upon me. I never thought for one moment That this could happen I am going to die here By the side of the road, No chance for survival, I feel myself… hovering Above who I am, It is a very strange sensation. The pain has become bearable, But it is not the pain That will kill me, The viciousness of the attack… will. Maybe not! I see help. Yes! Yes indeed, A priest is coming towards me, He will help me, This man… Of holiness and compassion. He will most certainly help me . I don’t understand! What is he doing? He is crossing the road, Averting his eyes So as not to see me. This man of faith, Is it possible He is naught But a coward? So long I have been here, Here comes a Levite, Surely! But surely This man of holy cloth, Will be helping me. I wish I could call out, But I can’t. I feel I am close to dead. I am dead… for he too Has passed to the other side To avoid me. To them maybe I am but a corpse They do not wish to touch. This brutality to my being Has made me unclean, And they wish not To be involved. Someone else is coming, But I cannot expect help here For he is a Samaritan, A man not to be trusted. A despicable, deceitful man Not of the Jewish way. Those of my own faith Have deserted me… I can expect no help here, I am lost and certainly will die . The pain has returned, It is unbearable. I appear to be back Into my body Over which I hovered. The Samaritan is by my side, He has tears of pity In his eyes… for me. He is kneeling beside my body, Binding my wounds, Pouring on my injuries His precious olive oil and wine… He is strong, He lifts me gently And places my battered being Upon his own animal. He takes me to an inn, And pays the innkeeper To take care of me. This is a man Whose race I have despised, I have discriminated against All my life. Yet this is the man Who saved me from death. Who shed tears for me … a stranger, Who showed compassion And Godliness. Never have I experienced Such caring for another, In my life. My upbringing and my beliefs Have been clearly challenged, For he who I thought To be our people’s bitter enemy, Turned out to be A man of great faith A humanitarian, A moral and righteous man. A man I would be proud To call my best friend, My neighbor. I stand humbly In the shadow Of a real man... The Samaritan.  Francesco Bassano 1575 back to list |
The Good Shepherd We are in awe, of The Good Shepherd, and in the way we see Him. How tender He is, such gentleness and consideration, totally devoted to His flock. We look at the paintings provided over many centuries, by hundreds of artists and smile…all different yet with a familiar sameness. A serene, caring man holding a lamb protectively to His chest. They please our hearts these portraits of goodness, and oft times we look no further, nor question just what type of man this Shepherd was. Even the great cynics will …and have, stood in front of a work of art, portraying The Good Shepherd… and valued the breathtaking beauty of an artist’s rendition of a Legend … and smiled. The truth is that this vision we lock ourselves into, is lacking well in our understanding of just who The Good Shepherd was. He was without a doubt a unique ‘one of a kind‘, and very multi- faceted. An enigma - in the full sense of the word, a mass of contradictions. He was a master and a servant, to be served upon and yet so willing to serve. A teacher and a pupil eager to teach, yet equally as eager to learn. Calm and yet quick to anger, assured, self-confident. Compassionate and caring, kindness personified, yet also uncertain and questioning. Forceful, persuasive, dynamic a fighter when the need arose …a force to be reckoned with, A martyr, courageous and unknown. He was composed softness, Yet under that shroud of kindness and unselfishness was hidden one independently tough man. He was a hero…filled with benevolence and humbleness, a man of great character who touched the common man… because He was the common man. He was, by far, much more than The Good Shepherd as portrayed and accepted so enthusiastically by so many. It does not even matter if you are a believer or not, You do not have to consider this man …as the Son of God, the truth is that history has proven His existence…that He was real, regardless of who you might think He was. I for one try hard to remember He was and is far more than an artist’s rendition of a serene, caring man holding a lamb protectively to His chest, He is in fact more than I shall ever know …or understand. In my mind’s eye though He is the Good Shepherd …a Legend …and artists delight, and I stand with others …in awe. back to list |
The Prodigal Son Murillo 1667/70 I took what was mine To seek, search and find, But... The road traveled Appears to have Led to nowhere. It has been fraught With temptations And addictions, Despair and regrets. A loveless, lonely road.. . Was ever a way so long? Father, where are you, Do you hear me, see my suffering, Will you honor my apologies? I am not worthy to be your child, Let me be your servant instead. I hang my head in shame For I have squandered your wealth , But far worse... your love. I want to return home, Father. Dear Father, You are so constant The truth is so simple You will not have moved Away from my home... your home. The road I traveled Was of my own choosing. As you have not moved Then you will still be...thankfully, At my journey’s start. I can and will turn around, Wend my way back And offer my services That I might be once more In the only place That I knew the honesty Of unconditional love. I see you running, Running to meet ME, And I am over-flowing With the knowledge, That your arms Are wide open In readiness To embrace me, Your prodigal child. How wonderfully you fill me With Your Love And Glory. Thank you ... Father!. back to list |
Saved An innocent…lost A seemingly small slip, And a very nasty fall The cliff Is precipitous, A sheer drop To the bottom If this brush And small ledge Should let me go. I strayed, The trail I followed Was cobbled with temptation Touched by defiance And bordered in sin. Things I never heard of Or needed to know Have tainted me And I am lost And unworthy. I was enticed …by an illusion, Of greener grasses But found naught …but terror. Stranded, Hovering on the brink …of death. I wish I was deserving Of being saved, But I am just a small lamb Within a fold …of so many. I am not praiseworthy And I will not be missed. The Lord is my Shepherd …words unspoken, Funny that fear Laces you to a faith, You strayed away from. Hold on my child, For I am love, I sacrificed My Son …for your forgiveness. Look up and seek Him, For He is your Rescuer, Your Protector. Know you are not one …to be concealed Behind barricades Of your own making. You are not unheard. You are my beloved lamb, My most precious child And I love you. I hear Him, I look up And I see My forgiveness ...salvation And I know I am liberated. The Son of God …is my Shepherd ……my Savior ………my Hero. I was lost, I am found, Saved by the generosity Of a faithful, loving Father. With gratitude, And much humbleness I have been freed…to live. Glory! Thank You! Amen. back to list |
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