The Golden Rule

(1/2025) We’ve all heard the Parable of the Good Samaritan, a story told by Jesus in the Gospel of Luke. While traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho, A Jewish man is attacked by robbers, beaten, robbed of his possessions, and left for dead on the side of the road. Several people pass him by as he lay helpless on the ground. A Jewish priest traveling along the road sees the injured man and passes by on the other side. A Levite also sees the man, and avoids him.

A Samaritan, whose people were considered enemies of the Jews, comes upon the injured man. The Samaritan ignores any social rules for shunning "those people", and takes pity on the injured man. He cleans and bandages his wounds, sets him on his own donkey, and takes him to an inn. The Samaritan brings his mission full circle by paying for the Jewish man’s care.

I heard this story many times as I grew up. So often that it slowly became a simple listening to a story of the good guy who was kind to strangers, but not always actively thinking through the deeper meaning, that the Golden Rule applies to all we meet in life. Treat others as you would want to be treated. Not simply, conveniently, the ones we like, or perceive to be "like us", but also people with whom we disagree. Start with your neighbors, sure. The lesson from the gospels is to share our humanity with everyone. The lesson is not to collect a selective list of good deeds.

The lesson from the good Samaritan is about being a good neighbor to all people. It bears repeating how this story is told as a foundation for faith. As one has faith in God, one has to have faith in their follow man.

From the King James Bible:

And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?

He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?

And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.

And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.

But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?

And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.

And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.

And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.

But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,

And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.

And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.

Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?

And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.

There are people all around who are just mad about everything all the time. There are plenty of people too, who still see the value in being a good neighbor, a good Samaritan. From small interactions everyday to large organizations trying to shine a light on helping others, we have opportunities every day to be that good neighbor. Being patient, welcoming new people into our communities, taking a breath before blaming our problems on someone else.

Institutions have opportunities too, and many creative programs are based on these foundational concepts. Frederick Health (formerly Frederick Memorial Hospital) has a Good Samaritan of the Year Award presented to a person who meets one of the following criteria listed on their website in 2018.

• Actions or achievements that substantially advance Frederick Memorial Hospital toward fulfillment of its goals, or
• Long term involvement in eleemosynary community service activities, or
• Actions or achievements that substantially advance patient care, the economic health of Frederick Memorial Hospital, or the physical safety of its personnel or patients, or
• Performance of a distinguished act in the interest of humanity and that epitomizes excellence and leadership.

There is so much talk of Christianity, Nationalism, Patriotism, Constitutional Originalism. All blended together in varying combinations as suited to the speaker. Each with a curated list of who to blame for all that is bad. Blaming one’s woes on another person is a trap of distraction. Putting your name on a bible and selling it as "yours’ is a blasphemy of the temple. Another distraction from doing things that actually help us and our neighbors.

Think about family separation as a border policy. Would you tolerate being forcibly separated from your child for any reason? So why would we tolerate doing it to someone else? We Americans already have more than any other country on Earth. When the new Administration is sworn in on January 20 look for opportunities to build on our assets, not dismantle them.

New Year Resolutions are a tradition of fleeting effectiveness. This year, let’s reboot with a fresh installation of the Golden Rule.