The parable of the Good Samaritan continues to be our focus for this devotion.
Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he said, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" He said to him, "What is written in the law? What do you read there?" (Luke 10:25-26) He answered, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself." And he said to him, "You have given the right answer; do this , and you will live." (Luke 10:27-28) But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" Jesus replied, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, he passed by on the other side. (Luke 10:29-32) But a Samaritan while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. (Luke 10:33) He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. (Luke 10:34) The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, 'Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend. (Luke 10:35)
This is called a witness. The Samaritan not only brings the man into a town and to an inn and takes care of him, he makes arrangements for others to continue the care. The innkeeper could have simply booted the man out of the Inn. The Samaritan makes it worth his time and effort to keep him there. More than likely, the story was told about finding him on the road, not knowing who it is...and that this was a Samaritan who may have been helping out a beaten up Jew. Even if it was a beaten up Samaritan, this traveler still acted in a way that showed compassion and concern and care for another human being. The innkeeper is now witnessing how deeply human compassion can run. He is given money to keep up the care. Even if the innkeeper was a "low-life", he is seeing the witness of humanity blessed and being a blessing. The circle of care becomes greater...the story telling will become greater...the Samaritan's life is a witness. In the parable, it is simply called the witness of - a neighbor.
Connection: People really do watch and listen and gain insight into the worth of life as we all go through the day being who we are - blessed and beloved of God. This is not because of our religious convictions or how we can quote scripture or what we don't do. It is because of who we become in the middle of all the ordinary travels within our day. People notice acts of mercy and kindness...and there can never be too many of those acts. But it does make a witness for others to another way to be human - in the image of God.
Lord God, you bind us together and call us to make sure that those around us are a part of us. In that way, there will be no refuse among us because we each are bound to one another and invited to share in the well-being of those whose paths we cross. Grant us the courage to be vulnerable and caring in this day. Amen
Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he said, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" He said to him, "What is written in the law? What do you read there?" (Luke 10:25-26) He answered, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself." And he said to him, "You have given the right answer; do this , and you will live." (Luke 10:27-28) But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" Jesus replied, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, he passed by on the other side. (Luke 10:29-32) But a Samaritan while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. (Luke 10:33) He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. (Luke 10:34) The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, 'Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend. (Luke 10:35)
This is called a witness. The Samaritan not only brings the man into a town and to an inn and takes care of him, he makes arrangements for others to continue the care. The innkeeper could have simply booted the man out of the Inn. The Samaritan makes it worth his time and effort to keep him there. More than likely, the story was told about finding him on the road, not knowing who it is...and that this was a Samaritan who may have been helping out a beaten up Jew. Even if it was a beaten up Samaritan, this traveler still acted in a way that showed compassion and concern and care for another human being. The innkeeper is now witnessing how deeply human compassion can run. He is given money to keep up the care. Even if the innkeeper was a "low-life", he is seeing the witness of humanity blessed and being a blessing. The circle of care becomes greater...the story telling will become greater...the Samaritan's life is a witness. In the parable, it is simply called the witness of - a neighbor.
Connection: People really do watch and listen and gain insight into the worth of life as we all go through the day being who we are - blessed and beloved of God. This is not because of our religious convictions or how we can quote scripture or what we don't do. It is because of who we become in the middle of all the ordinary travels within our day. People notice acts of mercy and kindness...and there can never be too many of those acts. But it does make a witness for others to another way to be human - in the image of God.
Lord God, you bind us together and call us to make sure that those around us are a part of us. In that way, there will be no refuse among us because we each are bound to one another and invited to share in the well-being of those whose paths we cross. Grant us the courage to be vulnerable and caring in this day. Amen
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