October 3, 2005
The Good Samaritan Lk 10:25-37
There was a scholar of the law who stood up to test Jesus and said, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus said to him, “What is written in the law? How do you read it?” He said in reply, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” He replied to him, “You have answered correctly; do this and you will live.”
But because he wished to justify himself, he said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus replied, “A man fell victim to robbers as he went down from Jerusalem to Jericho. They stripped and beat him and went off leaving him half-dead. A priest happened to be going down that road, but when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. Likewise a Levite came to the place, and when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. But a Samaritan traveler who came upon him was moved with compassion at the sight. He approached the victim,
poured oil and wine over his wounds and bandaged them. Then he lifted him up on his own animal, took him to an inn, and cared for him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper with the instruction, ‘Take care of him. If you spend more than what I have given you, I shall repay you on my way back.’ Which of these three, in your opinion, was neighbor to the robbers’ victim?” He answered, “The one who treated him with mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”
The way to salvation is through ministry to others with love and mercy. The acts of the traveler who did not avoid the robber's victim who was in need are the acts of a loving Christian, a true follower of Jesus. The priest and the Levite saw the wounded man in need and did not stop to give assistance. The traveler who was of a foreign background an outsider, had the kindness to personally tend to the injured man's wounds and then pay the innkeeper to continue care while he returned to his journey. I know that it is not always simple to stop on the journey to help those in need. I pray for an open heart and the wisdom to know God's will.
There was a scholar of the law who stood up to test Jesus and said, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus said to him, “What is written in the law? How do you read it?” He said in reply, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” He replied to him, “You have answered correctly; do this and you will live.”
But because he wished to justify himself, he said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus replied, “A man fell victim to robbers as he went down from Jerusalem to Jericho. They stripped and beat him and went off leaving him half-dead. A priest happened to be going down that road, but when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. Likewise a Levite came to the place, and when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. But a Samaritan traveler who came upon him was moved with compassion at the sight. He approached the victim,
poured oil and wine over his wounds and bandaged them. Then he lifted him up on his own animal, took him to an inn, and cared for him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper with the instruction, ‘Take care of him. If you spend more than what I have given you, I shall repay you on my way back.’ Which of these three, in your opinion, was neighbor to the robbers’ victim?” He answered, “The one who treated him with mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”
The way to salvation is through ministry to others with love and mercy. The acts of the traveler who did not avoid the robber's victim who was in need are the acts of a loving Christian, a true follower of Jesus. The priest and the Levite saw the wounded man in need and did not stop to give assistance. The traveler who was of a foreign background an outsider, had the kindness to personally tend to the injured man's wounds and then pay the innkeeper to continue care while he returned to his journey. I know that it is not always simple to stop on the journey to help those in need. I pray for an open heart and the wisdom to know God's will.
posted by Joan Morris at 6:00 AM
