救濟貧困饑餓的人，提供食物是最直接和最有效；但為長遠計，必須幫助他們耕種，自食其力！同樣道理，耶穌基督從來不抗拒有學問的人。因為有學問的人尋求真理，渴望憑藉真理，不斷地改善自己，甚至改善別人的處境，是值得讚賞的。雖然今天的故事中，那位法學士來意不善，但耶穌並沒有放棄教化他的機會；主耶穌希望可以解放他思想上的束縛，希望他日後可以造福百姓。
可惜，法學士被自己的惡念蒙蔽了，看不到耶穌基督對他的肯定和對舊約的肯定。他不願意輕易放過耶穌，便窮追猛打！在耶穌基督的眼中，這些法學士是「以色列的師傅」（若3:10）。祂是多麼渴望這些師傅，可以突破自我的中心，教化其他的猶太人，回心轉意，歸向天父！所以，主耶穌很有耐性地給法學士和我們，講述著名的「慈善撒瑪黎雅人」比喻，教導我們設身處地，從有需要幫助的人的角度看問題！因為愛就是希望對方得益，就是為對方的好處而作出努力，這就是「愛人如己」的本意。
可是，近人始終不是自己，更何況是那些不同語言、宗教和政見的人呢？其實，在遇到貧窮、疾病甚至面臨死亡，語言、種族甚至政見，還有分別嗎？有誰可以保證沒有患病或者潦倒的一天呢？
我們做甚麼纔可以突破自我呢？開放自己的心，祈求耶穌基督的幫助，可以突破自我；其實，從今天的比喻可見，幫助有困難的人，在他們身上看到潦倒的自我，也是一個不錯的方法！
主耶穌，讓我們享受到祢的慈悲之餘，也能幫助其他人這樣做。亞孟。
生命恩泉
圖片鳴謝：biblicalarchaeology.org
Prayer Series: I (Luke 10:25-37)
The most effective and direct way to help starving people is to give them food. But in the long run, we need to help them grow food. Similarly, Jesus Christ has never rejected learned people. It is because they pursue the Truth and with which they enhance themselves and even improve the situation of the others. Such endeavour is commendable. Although the scholar of the law was hostile in the story today, Jesus did not give up the opportunity to enlighten him. Lord Jesus wants to liberate him from the straitjackets of his thoughts, hopefully he would benefit the common folks in the future.
When the legal scholar asked how to inherit eternal life, Jesus did not deny his past achievements, did not deny the contribution of Moses nor the value of the Old Covenant. The Lord says, "Do this and you will live" (Luke 10:28). People may inherit eternal life even by observing the law of Moses!
Regrettably, the legal scholar was blinded by his own evil intentions. He failed to see Jesus Christ's affirmation of him and of the Old Covenant. He did not want to let Jesus go easily and continued his assault. In the eyes of Jesus Christ, these legal scholars were "teachers of Israel" (John 3:10) How much Jesus desires these teachers breaking through their egotism to teach fellow Jews to turn to the Father! Thus, Lord Jesus patiently told this legal scholar and all of us the famous parable of the Good Samaritan, teaching us to see problems from the persepective of those in need! It is because love wants to see the others good. It is a will to act for the benefits of the others. This is the original intention of "loving your neighbour as yourself".
However, neighbour is not us after all, not to mention those who speak different languages, those who believe in different gods and those who uphold different ideologies. Indeed, in front of poverty, illness and even death, do languages, races and political stance matter any more? Who can guarantee that they shall never fall sick or misfortunates shall never patronize them one day?
What must we do to break out of our ego? Let us open up our hearts to ask for Jesus Christ's assistance. It surely will help us break through our ego. Indeed, from the parable today, we can see that helping people in need and seeing an unlucky self in them can be a good way to break out!
Lord Jesus Christ! Let us savour Your mercy and help others do the same. Amen.
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