Good Samaritan

Most people, regardless of their faith tradition, are familiar with the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37). In this parable, Jesus is defining what it means to love your neighbor as yourself. The contrasts drawn in the parable are pointed and powerful. On the one hand, we see two religious men ignore a man beaten and bloody in the street. One is a priest, someone revered for leading religious services, and the other is a Levite, someone expert in religious law and doctrine. They failed the test of loving others as God expects. Along comes a Samaritan who ignores traditional tribal tensions to show love for a stranger in Judea. The moral of the story is that you should love all others, even those you have been taught to distrust or dislike by your culture and religion.

 Jesus would be pleased with this New York City policeman. The officer saw a homeless man on the sidewalk with no shoes. The officer stopped to buy the man heavy socks and warm boots. His gesture of kindness was recorded by a tourist who witnessed the event and took a picture with her cellphone.



The officer was surprised by the attention he received when the tourist posted the picture on the NYPD's Facebook page. People were greatly moved by his compassion.

Foster’s photo was posted Tuesday night to the NYPD’s official Facebook page and became an instant hit. More than 420,000 users “liked” it as of Thursday evening, and more than 140,000 shared it.

The context is perfect for retelling the Good Samaritan parable in 21st century America. Ordinances have been passed across the country that criminalize the homeless for sleeping on the street. It is against the law in some places to give the homeless food or money. These ordinances often put the police in the uncomfortable position of enforcing these laws. Likewise, political, business, and even some religious leaders have been bashing the poor as worthless freeloaders in our society. Our culture is hardening its heart to the suffering of others.

Officer Larry DiPrimo could have listened to our increasingly callous culture and walked on by the homeless man shivering in the street. Instead, he behaved like the compassionate Samaritan. And his act of kindness just happened to be witnessed and publicized by a stranger to the city.

She wrote: “The officer squatted down on the ground and proceeded to put socks and the new boots on this man. The officer expected NOTHING in return and did not know I was watching.”

DePrimo said buying the boots “was something I had to do.” He tried to persuade the man to get something to eat, but he declined and left.

“When I brought out the shoes, it was just a smile from ear to ear,” he said. “It was a great moment for both of us.”

Judging from the reaction to this story, people are hungry for the gospel of love as taught by Jesus. Not the religion of ceremony, law, and doctrine, but a theology built around loving God and love others.