The Parable of the Good Aboriginal

Art work by Don Chase. Photo by Colin Frizzell.

Luke 10:25-37

New International Version (Revised)

The Parable of the Good Aboriginal

²⁵ On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
²⁶ “What is written in the Law?” Jesus replied. “How do you read it?”
²⁷ He answered, “‘Love the Divine Spirit, the mystery and the miracle of life, with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’”
²⁸ “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”
²⁹ But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbour?”
³⁰ In reply Jesus said: “A man was traveling from Ottawa to Washington, when he was attacked by carjackers. They forced him off the road, stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away in the man's car, leaving him half dead. ³¹ A psychiatrist happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he turned his head away and passed by. ³² So too, a politician, when he came to the place and saw him, turned his head away and passed by. ³³ But then a gay Aboriginal prostitute, as she traveled, came to where the man was; and when she saw him, she took pity on him. ³⁴ She pulled over, went to him and bandaged his wounds. She put the man in her car, brought him to the nearest hotel and took care of him. ³⁵ The next day she took out all the money she had and gave it to the man at the reception desk. ‘Look after him,’ she said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’
³⁶ “Which of these three do you think was a neighbour to the man who fell into the hands of carjacker?”
³⁷ The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”
Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”