Who is the Good Samaritan

Photo by Aditya Rathod on Unsplash

In London, Ontario this past summer, a man carried out a horrific attack on a Muslim family, triggered by his hatred for their faith. It was heartbreaking news: three generations of this innocent family lost their lives. And of all places, it happened in Canada, at the hands of someone recognized as having a Christian identity. 

It is possible that this family had to flee from somewhere to save their lives; they may have come to this country as refugees like many others. Who knew that they would be persecuted in a place that they think is safe, at the hand of someone identified with a community that is asked to love thy neighbor as thyself?

Hearing this news was one of the many moments of my life that challenged me with the question: “Who is the good Samaritan?” 

As a child I loved this story. The way this story was told in my Sunday school and by my mother built a strong impression in my mind that the parable referred only and exclusively to us Christians as the good Samaritans. 

I grew up with this impression in a country with a majority Muslim population. Along the journey of my life, however, God shaped my understanding that the goodness of God exists in everyone.

I started to understand that I cannot limit God’s goodness and His light based on my flawed and limited understanding. God’s Spirit is at work in human life and all His creation in amazing ways beyond our human understanding.

God showed me through many instances the good Samaritans in the Muslim community. However, one particular experience had a very deep impact on me: 

Almost 10 years ago, one of my close family members, a young well-educated man in his 30s, was falsely accused of blasphemy against Islam. This put the whole family at risk. As the news spread in their small town, a mob with hundreds of angry Muslims started marching towards their home to lynch them.

God sent the first Good Samaritan to them; he was a Muslim neighbour who came to urge them to run for safety.

The family did not have any transport of their own so God provided them a second Good Samaritan. A Muslim neighbor helped them to flee in his auto rickshaw.

After fleeing from their home, the family was given refuge for more than a week by a Muslim friend. This third Good Samaritan gave them shelter, food to eat, and clothes to wear.

My relative who was accused of blasphemy was put in prison along with his father. The police tortured him for several weeks. Finally, he gave in. He made a confessional statement for an act he didn’t commit, just to end the physical and emotional torture.

His statement was sent to the police superintendent, who ordered to bring the accused to him. During the meeting, the police officer insistently asked my relative if he was telling the truth by making this confession.

Reluctantly my relative told him that he confessed because of the torture. This Muslim police officer, the fourth Good Samaritan, said to him: “I have read in your Bible that ‘The truth will set you free.’” He advised my relative to stick to the truth. He assured him that he’d make sure that no one touched him and that he’d investigate himself.

Finally, my cousin and his father were released as they were found not guilty. The family eventually had to move to another country, but they only survived because God used the good Samaritans from the Muslim community.

This story and the tragic incident in London, Ontario are great reminders that we cannot stereotype a community, either negatively or positively, based on our worldview. God chooses and uses people in mysterious ways.

Let us thank God for His goodness and shining His light in the most amazing ways.

submitted by an RHPNA network member