Compassion - inspired by the story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10: 25-37)

In this story Jesus seeks to shock his listeners by flying in the face of the expectations of experts in the religious law of the day. The person who comes to the aid of the man who was attacked by robbers in the story is not the priest, but a Samaritan who (because of religious differences might have been expected to pass by. Not only did the Samaritan stop to help but he went way beyond what he needed to do by paying for the wounded man to stay at an inn until he was better.

Jesus is teaching us that everyone counts as our "neighbour" and is worthy of our compassion and practical help.