Tag: good-samaritan

Daily Office Readings for Thursday of Proper 24: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 37; 1 to 18; Evening, Psalm 37:19 to 42;

Ecclesiasticus 10:1 to 18; Revelation 9:1to12; Luke 10:25 to 37

“But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, ‘And who is my neighbor?”  (Luke 10:29)

Today, we too, want to justify ourselves.  More than that, we want to justify ourselves by having others to side with us. It no longer matters if we are right as long as we are in the majority.

The lawyer in our Luke reading for today wanted to vindicate himself. He wanted to know the definition of neighbor. Perhaps he thought that by defining neighbor, he might eliminate a lot of people he would have to be concerned about.  In this way he would be off the hook, so to speak.

Of course, this parable goes into the story about the person whom we call the Good Samaritan. In this parable we notice that a priest, and then an ordinary Levite, pass by the injured man. Some say that if the man was dead and they touched him, they would then be defiled and could not enter the temple.  To this I would ask, what good is a faith tradition or its temple if it prevents you from being helpful to others?

So, are we off the hook, if the person in need is not on our team, our political party, or have our same skin tone, or speak our language? None of these differences disqualify him or her as a neighbor. But the truth is, that the neighbor was identified not by any of these outward characteristics or even by their faith tradition, but by the Samaritan having pity on the injured, yet unknown man, and responding to him with compassion.  Your neighbor is determined by what’s in you, not who the other person is.

We have our faith traditions in order that such traditions might help us be better neighbors. We do not have neighbors only if they share our tradition, culture or party. Every human being is our neighbor. We need to ask God to let us see all persons on this planet as our neighbor.  We all live in this “earth-hood” and that makes the earth our neighbor-hood and the people on it our neighbor.

As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and to serve, and to teach others to love and to serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Let us pray: For the Human Family (BCP p. 815):

O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us through Jesus your Son: Look with compassion on the whole human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us; unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in your good time, all nations and races may serve you in harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Eucharistic Gospel Reading for Sunday of Proper 10: Year C

Luke 10:25-37

“Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?” He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” said to him, “Go and do likewise.” (Luke 10: 36 and 37)

This is the parable of the Good Samaritan. It is a well known, but too rarely followed, example of expected Christian behavior.

Jesus explains that not just regular Israelites passed by the injured man, but indeed a Levite (the tribe from whom priest come; and also a priests himself passes without even getting close to the injured man.  Then a Samaritan, those who the Israelites disowned, puts forth both medical aid and financial support.

There is no hint about the Samaritan’s faith or belief in words, only deeds.  What he believes is expressed in his behavior.  Rather than getting into theological debates with people about different beliefs we, who call ourselves Christians, should just follow our Lord Jesus’ instruction to “Go and do likewise.”

From the Gospel reading for today Jesus tells of the Samaritan who finds a wounded man left for dead on the side of the road. The Samaritan is not necessarily a doctor but he cared about human life. He tended to the man and made provisions for his continued care.  The very people entrusted with the spiritual care of the people (the Priest and the Levite) pondered the negative consequences to themselves and avoided contact with the wounded man. They thought that if the man was dead, and they touched him, they would then be defiled and not fit to enter the temple.

Any faith that hinders our compassion to help others, any others, or at least investigate their situation, should be more closely examined. This includes some Christian walks in life as well. We never know when fate will alter our situation in life. It could be disease, or an accident, or fires, or storms, or even evil people as in this case of robbers who left this man for dead. When we notice someone in bad shape we should remember that they are our neighbors. All people on this planet are our neighbors. This is the point that Jesus is making.

We are called by God to have compassion for all people who are in any kind of distress. And where there is doubt, check it out. Your investigation may make a real difference in the lives of the distressed, it may even save a life. But know this; as you notice the unfortunate situations of others, God is noticing you. Be the neighbor to those who are in need. Show mercy, go and do likewise.

As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and to serve, and to teach others to love and to serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Let us pray: (BCP p. 231)

O Lord, mercifully receive the prayers of your people who call upon you, and grant that they may know and understand what things they ought to do, and also may have grace and power faithfully to accomplish them; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Daily Office Readings for Thursday of the 7^th Week of Easter: Year 1

Morning, Psalm 105:1 to 22; Evening, Psalm 105:23 to 45;         
Ezekiel 18:1 to 4 and 19 to 32; Hebrews 7:18 to 28; Luke 10:25 to 37:

“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, passed by on the other side.”  (Luke 10: 31 and 32)

This is the story of the Good Samaritan. It is in response to a lawyer who asks, “Who is my neighbor?” and answered by our Lord Jesus.  Jesus begins by showing the unneighborly acts by persons thought to have compassion for all people, but did not.

Passing by on the other side seems to be the ancient way of avoiding difficult situations. We still pass by difficult situations today. We don’t want to have the difficult conversations about the sins of racism, or mental illness, or reconciliation with those who have been wrongly incarcerated, or even those who have differing opinions than ourselves.  Too many of us would rather have no contact or communication with the details of a problem than to do the hard work of unraveling it. It is like unraveling a tangled set of Christmas lights. We do this avoidance knowing that once done, the results will be beautiful.

Human language is a beautiful thing. We have ways of reasoning through the spoken and written words that other forms of life on earth life do not have.  However, we fail to use dialogue in the best ways, ways that will bring us together in more loving relationships.  But the truth is, we must want the virtue of compassion for ourselves first. We must want to be able to live in harmony with others. There should be nothing, no subject, that we cannot talk about. Such conversation requires discipline. We must have in place rules of respect and tolerance.  But like the Good Samaritan, we must start with compassion. We have been passing by on the other side for far too long. Let’s fix this, or at least, begin to.

Today we remember Boniface, Bishop, Missionary, Martyr (June 5, 754) and his information may be found at: Boniface

As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and to serve, and to teach others to love and to serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Let us pray:

Help us, O help us Dear Lord to have compassion for one another. Let us use the gift of compassion and mercy to unravel our languages in a way that allows us to feel the hearts of our neighbors knowing that all of humanity are our neighbors, and that as we do this, we too will be Good Samaritans, and pleasing in Your sight; Amen.