Sermon - 2019-07-14
Today, we hear a rather familiar story that Jesus uses to make a point. It is typically known as the Good Samaritan. With each of the characters, we learn a lot of what it is we should not and should do. For the priest, passes by on the other side, now so we understand, if the priest would have stopped and helped man, the Jewish laws would have stated that the priest would be unclean to enter the temple and thus not help or care for the hundreds or thousands of people that would come to the Temple that day. So for the priest, he would be thinking of the majority and not the individual. The levite, would be passing by but what reason would he not stop and help the man. Would it be because he was robbed and thus have no wealth and would be of no benefit for the rich man. Would he think of the wealth that he would lose by helping this man and what others in the town would think of him for helping this man. Now it is the third man, the Samaritan that Jesus lifts up to the People of God as to what they should be doing. Now a little history to understand, Jews and Samaritans do not mix. They would be like oil and water. You can put them in the same container but there is a distinct separation and line as they part. The Jews considered the Samaritans as second class citizens and the Samaritans hated being treated so poorly that hate towards the Jews arose. Now it is this hated other, that Jesus lifts up as the role model, the example that all should strive to follow.
Now throughout history, the church has used this story to remind all of God’s people of what it is we should do. It can become a checklist of things that we feel that we should live out. However, I think that there is more. We also learn about the heart of God that should lead us and guide us in our thoughts of people that we encounter.
With the priest, he was thinking so much about the others that he could help. The hundreds, the thousands and yet, just as Jesus shared in the parable of the shepherd who leaves the 99 sheep to search for the one lost sheep in the wilderness. We learn that God is calling us to care for the individuals who are in need, those who are directly in front of us and not serve the vast majority of wants. With the Levite, we are reminded of our own justifications that can cloud our own judgements. Are we striving only to make money? Are we so focused only on our own schedules and what it is that WE want to do that we forget about the needs of others and what God is calling us to do with the gift of life that God has given to us?
With the Samaritan, we see the mercy that fills the man’s heart. He sees the man in his weakened and defeated position and sees himself. The possibility that it could have been him and what would he want someone else to do for him. So he shows compassion to a stranger, to someone who he had never met and someone who may never repay him for what it is that he is doing. It opens our eyes, our hearts and all that we are. It is this same mercy, grace, forgiveness and love that God is sharing with us every single day and yet how are we sharing that with others???
Now in our modern times, we teach and are taught to be safe. Do not take candy from strangers. Do not pick up a hitchhiker because you do not know what danger you would find yourself in. So please understand. I do not want to get into a situation that would jeopardize your own safety. However, I do want you to realize that God is calling you. We can not think that “someone else will do the work”. For WE ARE BEING CALLED!! If we do not help and work together as a community to care for those in need and remind each other of God’s Calling, we will follow the example and the heart of the priest and levite but not God’s heart. It is why we ask that we would be filled with the Holy Spirit, that we pray that God’s Will be done and not our own, and now we are called to action. TO DO God’s Work in this world.
May you go forth, filled with the Holy Spirit and ready to share God’s love with the world and the people you encounter. Amen
Now throughout history, the church has used this story to remind all of God’s people of what it is we should do. It can become a checklist of things that we feel that we should live out. However, I think that there is more. We also learn about the heart of God that should lead us and guide us in our thoughts of people that we encounter.
With the priest, he was thinking so much about the others that he could help. The hundreds, the thousands and yet, just as Jesus shared in the parable of the shepherd who leaves the 99 sheep to search for the one lost sheep in the wilderness. We learn that God is calling us to care for the individuals who are in need, those who are directly in front of us and not serve the vast majority of wants. With the Levite, we are reminded of our own justifications that can cloud our own judgements. Are we striving only to make money? Are we so focused only on our own schedules and what it is that WE want to do that we forget about the needs of others and what God is calling us to do with the gift of life that God has given to us?
With the Samaritan, we see the mercy that fills the man’s heart. He sees the man in his weakened and defeated position and sees himself. The possibility that it could have been him and what would he want someone else to do for him. So he shows compassion to a stranger, to someone who he had never met and someone who may never repay him for what it is that he is doing. It opens our eyes, our hearts and all that we are. It is this same mercy, grace, forgiveness and love that God is sharing with us every single day and yet how are we sharing that with others???
Now in our modern times, we teach and are taught to be safe. Do not take candy from strangers. Do not pick up a hitchhiker because you do not know what danger you would find yourself in. So please understand. I do not want to get into a situation that would jeopardize your own safety. However, I do want you to realize that God is calling you. We can not think that “someone else will do the work”. For WE ARE BEING CALLED!! If we do not help and work together as a community to care for those in need and remind each other of God’s Calling, we will follow the example and the heart of the priest and levite but not God’s heart. It is why we ask that we would be filled with the Holy Spirit, that we pray that God’s Will be done and not our own, and now we are called to action. TO DO God’s Work in this world.
May you go forth, filled with the Holy Spirit and ready to share God’s love with the world and the people you encounter. Amen
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