On being a neighbour...

Taupo Times, Volume 23, Issue 59, 25 July 1974, Page 5

On being a neighbour...

"And who is my neighbour?" . . . Luke 10. The story of the good Samaritan is the old story, known to most people, and I suppose everyone knows what we mean when we speak of "our good Samaritan act," or when we refer to someone as "our good Samaritan." However old the story, we can always get something fresh from its rereading and retelling. "There was a lawyer who, to disconcert him, stood up and said to him, master what must I do to inherit eternal life?" Note Luke's analysis of the lawyer "to disconcert him." This man, this intellectual, wanted something nice and precise to think about — after all, he was a lawyer and in those days this meant something of no mean feat; this man was an intellectual, he was not going to be fobbed off by any pious twaddle, "he expected special treatment, something perhaps not understandable to the ordinary little people who were clustering about Christ. So, our friend, the lawyer, "to disconcert him," stood up and said to him, etc. And, with a magnificent move, Christ stood aside to let this piece of sickening pose, pass him by, and came in with. a devastating twist of the boomerang and said: "But, Mr Lawyer, come now, you are the expert in law, what as written in the law, what do you read there?" Naughty almost of our Lord, but so necessary to bring Mr Big down to earth and to demolish all this claptrap, this pseudo concern for eternal life. And the poor lawyer, forced to spell out the law, somewhat red, and slightly sick in the stomach, began "you must love the Lord

your God, with all your heart . . . your soul . . . your strength . . . your mind . .. . and your neighbour as yourself. There, he had blurted it all out — he was mad with Christ, he felt he had been humiliated publicly, and he wasn't too happy, but he could have kicked himself, it was all his fault, he had started it all by trying to create an image of himself . which wasn't true or genuine. Luke says "but the man was anxious to justify himself and said to Jesus 'and who is my neighbour'." The moment of truth had arrived, because our friend, the lawyer, was true to himself. No law gave him any help about answering the question — who is my neighbour? What follows about the good Samaritan tells him all about his neighbour. Nothing else suffices or takes its place — learning, social status, intellectualism, smart-aleckism — all is empty and of no relevance to the answer, because only when we are humble, alive in God's grace, caring, true to ourselves, will we recognise our neighbour in Christ and Christ in our neighbour. This is the sum total of the law and the very end of God's law. Luke ends by saying that 'Jesus said: "Go, and do the same yourself." A review of the month's activities in and around the churches reveals: Anglican Church — The annual meeting of the parish is being held on Sunday evening. Among the items are consideration for an assist-

ant priest and additions to the entrance porch of the church. The only nomination for parishioners' warden was Mrs Gladys Righton. This is the first time a woman has been chosen for this responsibility. Senior and junior groups in the parish are preparing for confirmation. This will be conferred by Bishop Reeves on August 2. A home discussion group had a fruitful talk on the Department of Education booklet "Human Development and Relationships in the School Curriculum". More discussions are to follow. A group responsible for visiting the elderly and sick is increasing its numbers to reach more effectively people in this category. Baptist Church — A 24-hour "Dial a Devotion" ministry is planned to start soon. This will comprise a recorded telephone .devotion and prayer lasting about two minutes. The

On being a neighbour . .

message will be changed daily. k senior citizens friendship afternoon is held on the third Thursday of each month. So far, the meetings have been most successful. Last week children from Mountview Primary School sang to more than 40 senior citizens. Next month eight and nine year olds will entertain with Maori items. ' A team of senior young people conduct a monthly service of singing and sharing the faith at the detention centre in Turangi. This Sunday evening a youth service will be held and a film titled "The

Chinese are Coming" shown. Catholic Church — A group has had three discussions on the human development and relationships booklet. It is hoped to frame submissions following further discussion to be forwarded to the Education Department. A parish involvement scheme to involve a much wider cross-section of parishioners in parish activities is underway. . The response so far has been good. Gospel Church — Missionaries of the world-wide Evangelisation Crusade, home on furlough, gave an address and showed slides of their work on the

missions at the New Life Centre recently. i Union Church — The needs of the less fortunate people in the commu-nily are being brought to the notice of the union parish at present through the visit of Mr L. Hogg, of the Presbyterian Social Service Association. Through the work of the association and similar Methodist work, the union parish takes its part in caring for young and old in special need. Important on the list of projects for the Presbyterian association is the establishment of a home to care for 32 children suffering from deep emotional disturbance.

Bernard F.

Waters.