Being a Good Samaritan

If there is among you anyone in need, a member of your community in any of your towns within the land that the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hard-hearted or tight-fisted toward your needy neighbor. –Deuteronomy 15:7

Dear members and friends of the Swedenborgian Church,

So far, the year 2017 has certainly been one of the most challenging years that I can remember in my short life of 47 years. All these events happening all over the world are forcing me to wake from from the acclimatized belief that tomorrow will be just like today, and all we have to complain about is the traffic, politicians, and things we wish to do or buy. However, it’s important to remember that tomorrow can be an entirely different day from today. In the worst possible way, our neighbors in Florida, Texas, Nevada, Puerto Rico and the regions just north of San Francisco have recently experienced this very real and sometimes brutal truth.

It is an overwhelming and confusing to process and understand what is going on. Yet, the advice from Jesus in a time like this is to act immediately by rolling up our sleeves and performing an act of charity instead of ruminating about what is happening or why. We all desire to have the Good Samaritan as a neighbor, but how many of us actually practice being the Good Samaritan? The truth is that it is spiritually fulfilling to be a Good Samaritan to those in need. Let us pray together to God for divine help, and let us gather together to bring human help.

Please check our list of organizations providing assistance to the North Bay fire victims and help as you are able.

Blessings, Rev. Junchol Lee