From Luke 10: 25 Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he said, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" 26 He said to him, "What is written in the law? What do you read there?" 27 He answered, "You shall 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 your neighbor as yourself." 28 And he said to him, "You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live." 29 But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" 30 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. 31 Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. 34 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. 35 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.' 36 Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?" 37 He said, "The one who showed him mercy." Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."
What is it about lawyers and questions on eternal life? Most of us know the precious and powerful story. Jesus is asked by a lawyer about "inheriting" eternal life. Jesus liked to respond with questions, so He asks, "What is written in the law? What do you read there?" Jesus knew that at least the heart of this lawyer had heard the law and so the lawyer responds with the Great Commandment, "You shall 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 your neighbor as yourself." Jesus said, "You nailed it, now, just live it!" The lawyer knew that part one he had probably kept, but worried about part two, that neighbor bit. "And who is my neighbor?" He asks this, the Bible says "wanting to justify himself."
Jesus shares this story that is still happening today. A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho and got mugged in the process. He was robbed of his money, they even took his clothes, beat him, and left him almost dead. Jesus continued, a priest happened to be walking down that same road. The lawyer probably thought, what luck! A priest to help him! But this priest, upon seeing the man, crossed the road and continued walking on the other side. Then, Jesus said, here comes a Levite, a member of a royal lineage of Israel, rich historical ties to worship and leadership; but this Levite also crosses the street. Hmm, must have thought the lawyer, what could Jesus possibly be getting at?
It was, Jesus continued, a Samaritan, one from whom you would expect nothing positive towards Jews, who actually saw this man (keep that word saw in your mind), had pity on him and stopped to help. He bandaged this injured man's wounds, having dressed them with oil and wine, then put the man on his own animal, took him to a hotel and took care of him, meaning he spent the night keeping watch over him. On the next day this Samaritan takes two days wages and gives them to the innkeeper with orders to care for the man. The Samaritan also promises to return and cover any additional expenses that were incurred in the care and healing of this man.
Jesus asks, Which of these three was a neighbor to the injured man? The lawyer wisely replies, "The one who showed mercy." You nailed it, young man, now go live that way.
We sometimes choose not to see some of our neighbors. Remember that word saw? The first two of those who walked by the man hid from their vision and their hearts, the presence of need in this man. The Good Samaritan not only saw but acted on the need of this man. He was the good neighbor. We heard last year the prayer of a Florida church that asks God to send to them, "Those that nobody else wants nor sees." I wonder why they pray that? It's because so many of those of us from whom aid is expected have blind ears and hard hearts to truly helping the needs around us. We are afraid to cross the street, especially if our church is located in a transitioning neighborhood. We strive to keep it our exclusive enclave where we can continue worship in our way not realizing we are not worshiping God but our traditions and rituals. We sometimes don't want to cross the aisle to greet others. I served a church where I would invite folks to cross the aisle during the time of greeting, only to be told by one member that they would not arrive in church until after that time, because they did not like to greet others.
Eternal life does depend on our neighbors and how we as individuals and as churches, responded to the needs of our neighbor. As we drive into our church's neighborhood, do we become blind to the houses immediately across the street? Do we turn a deaf ear to the languages now being spoken that are not English? And do we try to reach them and invite them to be a part of our community?
We have a lot to still to do.
PRAYER: Gracious God, thank You for this powerful story about mercy and compassion. Help me to live it in a way that says all people are my neighbor and that I will do whatever it takes to care for them; not out of obligation but out of that same love I am to have towards You. I pray this, needing the help of Jesus my Lord, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
