Open to All

by Bob Peterson

A man of the law came to Jesus one day,
To ask Him a question to test what He'd say.
"To gain life eternal, teacher tell me the way."
A lawyer asked Jesus one day.

Jesus answered the man, "What's the law say to do?
Why don't you tell me what it says to you?
He answered, "Love God and love our neighbor too.
That's what the law says to do."

Then the man asked Jesus, who his neighbor might be?
In an effort to limit his responsibility.
So, Jesus told him a parable to help him to see,
Just who his neighbor might be.

A was a man traveling down Jericho Road.
Whistling a tune as onward he strode.
Blissfully unaware of what his future may hold.
Traveling down Jericho Road.

But down the road hid a devious cad.
Who sprang out at travelers stealing all that they had.
He and his pals were seriously bad.
A dastardly, nasterly cad.

As the man drew near, they jumped out to attack,
With thumpings and bumpings and a really hard smack.
Surrounding the man like a snarling dog pack,
They jumped out and sprang to attack.

After robbing the man, they left him for dead,
With cuts and bruises and a lump on his head.
And though he still lived it can truly be said,
That they robbed him and left him for dead.

A little while later a priest came along.
An expert in knowing what's right and what's wrong.
With little compassion, but a dignity strong,
It happened a priest came along.

When the priest saw the man, he said "My what a scene."
But to help the man out, the priest wasn't so keen.
For to kneel in the dirt he couldn't stay clean,
So, he stood there saying, "My what a scene."

Then he stepped round the man to go on his way.
But paused for a moment to look down and say,
"God bless you my son, hope you have a nice day."
As he stepped round to go on his way.

As time went on a Levite came by,
Looking very respectable, you could not deny.
A pious, nose highest, rather driest kind of guy.
In time a Levite came by.

As he saw the man, he said, "Really, how rude,
To lay in my path looking so very crude.
He probably wants money or some of my food."
The Levite thought, "Really how rude."

So, he stepped round the man as the priest had before.
In a hurry to be at the temple by four.
Where he was to pray for the suffering and poor,
Stepping round like the priest had before.

Still latter there came a Samaritan bloke,
Who had a different look and an accent as he spoke.
To the Jews, the Samaritans all seemed like a joke.
There came this Samaritan bloke.

When he saw the man, he rushed to his aid,
Not caring his race, title, or trade.
Care and compassion is what he displayed,
As he rushed to the Jewish man's aid.

He bandaged his wounds and took care of his need,
Loading him up, on his small sturdy steed.
Then carefully proceeded without hurry or speed.
He cared for the wounded man's need.

The Samaritan took him to an inn down the way,
Where he helped him inside, then paid for his stay.
Whatever was needed he promised to pay,
At the inn that was just down the way.

When Jesus finished his tale, He asked, "What have you learned?"
He asked this question as to the lawyer He turned.
"The title of neighbor, which one of them earned?
Tell me now, what have you learned?"

The Lawyer replied, "The neighbor was he,
Who chose to show mercy unconditionally."
"Correct" Jesus said, "And that's how you should be.
Go, and be a neighbor like he."

We tend to prefer those more like we are,
Who look and sound similar, drive the same kind of car.
Those others seem different, some downright bizarre.
Were more comfortable with those like we are.

But to reach out to others, God expects us to try.
For to say that we love, but compassion deny,
In the sight of our Lord, is frankly a lie.
It's not easy, but He expects us to try.

For the love of God is open to all.
Not just the deserving, even us when we fall.
And that's how we should love, if we follow God's call.
For God's love is open to all.