The Way of the Samaritan

Published: April 14, 2008, 1:05 a.m.

b'Because of anti-immigrant sentiments expressed by New Zealand politician, Peter Brown, Glynn chose to use the Good Samaritan as his text for this Easter 4 sermon. It is a strong prophetic sermon calling people everywhere to confront their fears of the stranger.\\n\\n"Peter Brown, the Deputy Leader of NZ First, articulated \\u2018anti-Samaritan\\u2019 sentiment last week when he warned of the \\u201creal danger we will be inundated with people who have no intention of integrating into our own society. They will form mini-societies\\u2026 that will lead to division, friction and resentment.\\u201d \\n\\nThis is the politics of suspicion and fear. It persists through every age and nation like a virus that won\\u2019t go away. Ironically it foments the division, friction, and resentment Brown and his ilk allegedly want to avoid. Fear is the motivation that justifies the powerful pushing the racially, and often economically, less powerful into prescribed roles and functions. Prejudice and racism are the gates that keep them there."\\n\\nRead full text at http://www.stmatthews.org.nz/nav.php?sid=447&id=833.'