The Good Samaritan (The Sacrament Retreat)

The Good Samaritan, a moral parable in Level II, is one of the children's favorites.  It really creates a lot of discussion and thought for them.  The small box with the door represents the Inn.  My husband made the Inn and road.  I did the painting and decorated it with the rocks.  I would suggest getting the lightest weight wood you can use.  This is heavy.  I keep it on the bottom shelf but usually help the child put in on a rug or desk. The figures were purchased and I painted them.  

One of my favorite parts of doing these materials is finding the right box to keep them in.  I know
the children enjoy looking inside them and getting out the figures.  I usually find them in Thrift Shops or second hand stores.  That was a favorite pastime when I first started.  I usually cover the inside of the box with material.  Often the boxes are in pretty used condition and so I sometimes have to sand and stain them.  This one had a lovely old painting on the top.  I can't help but wonder where these old boxes have been.

The Sacrament Retreat (The Good Samaritan Presentation)

Two thousand years ago it was normal for people to walk miles to get to their destination.  They didn't have money for horses.  Soldiers had horses but ordinary people might have a donkey to ride or carry things for them.  People in Egypt and other parts of the world rode camels like the three Magi, but for the most part people were very poor and had little.  It was not unusual for them to walk during the night and knock on someone's door asking for food and lodging.  Even Jesus and his apostles did this.  Jesus told his Apostles that if someone invites you into their home, accept their hospitality.  That's how they traveled.  Now this is a model of the road from Jerusalem down to Jericho that was commonly traveled.  It was a desert road and a mountainous area with many big rocks that robbers could hide behind.  It was well known to be very dangerous where robbers left people for dead.  It was on this dark road that a man was robbed and left wounded on the side of the road.  (I show the man on the road and the robbers).

(Then I remove the robbers and talk about the Jewish priest who was walking down that road.)  He passes the injured man and doesn't help him.  Next, a Levite, (who I explain is like a Deacon) passes the injured man also, and he doesn't help him either.  I tell the children how the Jewish people were in slavery by the Egyptians for hundreds of years and when they were freed they had to make up all these laws and rules to live by as they'd never been free before.  Some of their rules weren't easy and some were difficult.  One was that you couldn't do anything on the Sabbath, even if it meant helping someone.  In fact, that is one of the reasons Jesus died on the cross.  He broke their Sabbath law and performed miracles.  (Now I move the priest and Levite off the road to the bottom of the road).

Next, the Samaritan and his Donkey come down that road but see the man and he is moved with compassion.  I then tell the children how the Jews had no respect for Samaritans as they were part Jew but did not worship their God of Abraham and those that did practiced their faith differently.
They would never speak to them.  (Now I light the candle and read the Scripture.)

Afterward I ask them what they heard.  "Do you think the Samaritan would have helped the Levite and the Priest?"  Then I give out the Maxim plaques, one to each child and ask them to tell me if their Maxim applies to this story.  Happily most times they are absolutely right.  They get it.  But even if they aren't it gives me a chance to go over that Maxim and explain how it doesn't apply and what it means.  I do this after each Parable and in that way we are reviewing the Maxims as well as the Parables.  All of the Maxims address behavior toward others and how to pray.

Now go to the "Insistent Friend" link for that presentation explained.