Luke 10:25-37
On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
“What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”
He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
“You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”
But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’
“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”
The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”
Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”
REGARLDESS OF WHAT SCRIPTURE SAYS, IT’S EASIER AND SAFER TO JUST NOT GET INVOLVED.
THE UNEXPECTED OFTEN SHOWS US WHAT OUR SECRET VALUES REALLY ARE
“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”
The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”
Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.” —Luke 10:36-37
THE NATURE OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS TO GET INVOLVED WITH THOSE WHO ARE HURTING AND IN NEED, AND TO TEAR DOWN THE WALLS THAT SEPARATE US FROM ONE ANOTHER.
THE PARABLE OF THE GOOD SAMARITAN ANNOUNCES THE ARRIVAL OF ANOTHER KINGDOM ALTOGETHER - THE KINGDOM OF GOD - WHERE MERCY OVERCOMES ALIENATION.
WILL I ALLOW THE KINGDOM OF GOD TO ACTUALLY COME INTO MY LIFE AND LIVE ITSELF OUT THROUGH ME?
IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD, WE GET INVOLVED - OFTEN AT GREAT EXPENSE TO OURSELVES AND OUR COMFORT.
A NON-TRADITIONAL BLESSING
by Sister Ruth Fox, OSB
May God bless you with DISCONTENT with easy answers, half-truths, superficial relationships, so that you will live from deep within your heart.
May God bless you with ANGER at injustice, oppression, abuse, and exploitation of people, so that you will work for justice, equality, and peace.
May God bless you with TEARS to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation and war, so that you will reach out your hand to comfort them and to change their pain to joy.
May God bless you with the FOOLISHNESS to think you can make a difference in this world, so that you will do the things which others tell you cannot be done.
If you have the courage to accept these blessings, then God will also bless you with:
HAPPINESS—because you will know that you have made life better for others
INNER PEACE—because you will have worked to secure an outer peace for others
LAUGHTER—because your heart will be light
FAITHFUL FRIENDS—because they will recognize your worth as a person.
These blessings are yours—not for the asking, but for the giving—from One who wants to be your companion, our God, who lives and reigns, forever and ever. Amen.
Will you open your heart to Jesus today?
The really good news is that our standing with God isn’t based on the quality of your decisions, because we’ve all decided to do things that are wrong and sinful, but our standing with God is based on the goodness of God. He loves you so much that he sent Jesus, his only Son, who was perfect in every way, who died for the forgiveness of our sins. God raised him from the dead, and our response is to simply decide. If you want to make that decision today, pray with us:
Heavenly Father, Forgive my sins. Jesus, save me. I trust you. Fill me with your Spirit, so I can follow you and show your love in all that I do. Thank you fore new life. I give you all of mine. In Jesus’s name I pray. Amen
If you prayed that prayer today, reach out to us and let us know so that we can journey with you!