Do you see her? You can’t miss her. She is all around yet, no one notices. We pass by everyday, and still, can’t see her lurking among us. Do you know her name?
Her name is Apathy. (I know I could have also referred to Apathy as male, so excuse me…I also didn’t want to use the word “it”, as that could be a relative of Apathy.)
So who is Apathy? By definition, she is unconcerned, indifferent, and lacks emotion.
And what does Apathy have to do with you and me? Why should we be worried about being unconcerned, indifferent, or lacking in emotion? Well, it has much to do with how we live our daily lives — if we call ourselves Christians.
Recently, the news of a brutal beating here in Dumaguete caught the attention of many. Phil Prins, an American, was a victim of mauling, and died shortly thereafter.
Further details revealed a video showing the attack. What was appalling was that people were just passing by, and milling about as if nothing so serious had just taken place.
Did you see her? Apathy was alive and well.
Many suddenly become indifferent — when tragedy strikes.
The Bible presents us with a similar incident. In the book of Luke (Chapter 10 verse 29), a certain lawyer, wanting to justify himself, replies to Jesus: “And who is my neighbor?” And Jesus answered: “A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half-dead.
Notice the lawyer wanted to try and trip up Jesus. He was not there to be instructed, but to justify himself. Thus, the question of the day ‘Who is my neighbor?’
So we see a Jew who was headed from Jerusalem to Jericho. On his way, he was beaten and left for dead by thieves who divested themselves of all humanity.
Jesus continues in verse 31: “Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. Likewise, a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side.”
Did you see her? Yep, there she was, Apathy, just passing by.
I like it when Jesus, in many instances, begins his parables with people who represent the church. Thus, we see men of public character and stature, both Jews, as was the beaten man, and they knew Apathy very well. It is sad when those who should be examples of charity are instead prodigies of cruelty.
One just passed by without giving a second glance, and the other was more curious and looked at the beaten man. Maybe both just wanted to get as far away and as quickly as possible, maybe fearful they may be the next victim.
How many times in our lives has this happened? We are all guilty at times of being indifferent.
In some instances, it just might be fear, or simply not knowing what to do. We can be unconcerned in many ways, and it does not have to be in such horrendous events as the beating of Phil.
In Luke 10 verse 33, “but a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him. ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.’
And Jesus continues, “So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?” The lawyer replied, “He who showed mercy on him. Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”
Thus, do we follow the command of Jesus to “do likewise”?
So who is your neighbor? We learn that a neighbor does not have to be one that lives close to us or even in our community. In fact, the Greek word for neighbor can mean any other man, irrespective of nation or religion, our fellow man.
A Samaritan has mixed blood, and not considered a real Jew. The priest and the Levite, by what they profess to be, should have been the first to offer assistance. But no, they teach, but failed to follow what they teach.
Well one may say, “Ok, the next time something like this happens, I will offer my assistance.” Guess what? Apathy abounds everyday in our lives. She is involved in our lives much more than we think. Almost everyday, someone is either seriously hurt, or killed in a motorcycle accident. Yet, nothing changes.
There are laws governing the use of these vehicles. I’m sure we have all either witnessed accidents, or the aftermath of a carnage. All that one has to do is read the daily news, and we see the same throughout the Philippines.
Apathy abounds in our lives. Where are the shouts for justice? Nothing but silence, and Apathy just shakes her head in wonderment.
The blood of these victims is the result of Apathy. And whose hands are bloodied, one may ask?
Look how involved the Samaritan was. He not only gave the victim first aid, but provided the victim with an ambulance using his own mode of transportation. He arrived at an inn, and took care of him.
The next day, he took out some money, and gave it to the innkeeper, and said if that wasn’t enough, he would repay on his return trip.
Amazing love — the kind of love that Jesus preached. As taught by Jesus, there are two really important commandments: Love God, and Love your neighbor.
Do we really treat others, including those we don’t personally know, with brotherly love? Or do we just go about our daily lives, not caring, just concerned about ourselves and those close to us?
The headline of a broadsheet (Manila Bulletin, Jan. 11) calling for a trash-less Traslacion fell on deaf ears, as related by a pro-environment group. In observance of the Feast of the Black Nazarene in Manila, the huge crowds left truckloads of garbage. The group reported that many different items were just discarded on the streets, and even with the No Smoking signs at the Quirino Grandstand, cigarette butts were everywhere.
Was there “love of neighbour” or even “love of country” demonstrated there?
See her, Apathy that is, just grinning.
I wonder what Jesus would have thought, strolling through the garbage? Father, forgive them for they do not know what they do.
The Bible addresses the plight of the orphans, widows, and almost 200 times mentions the poor. Proverbs 29:7 relates, The righteous considers the cause of the poor, but the wicked does not understand such knowledge.
Do we assist people who are in need in a constructive way? This does not mean merely giving dole-outs to beggars. I’m referring to genuinely getting involved.
There is a saying that I learned awhile back: If you want to touch the past, touch a rock. If you want to touch the present, touch a flower. If you want to touch the future, touch a life.
We can touch a life in many different ways. Unfortunately, Apathy flourishes.
Will justice prevail in the case of Phil Prins? We can only pray and hope so.
But if the past is any indication, one has to wonder. Just look at the various ongoing and unsolved cases not only nationally, but locally as well.
Finally, this should be our desire to follow: For I, the Lord, love justice. (Isaiah 61:8)
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Author’s email: HealthAssist@hotmail.com
