Friday, November 17, 2023

“So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?” And he said, “He who showed mercy on him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

Luke 10:36-37

We end the week with the parable of the Good Samaritan. As we know, parables are “earthly stories with heavenly meanings.”

In Luke 10, an attorney asks Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life. Jesus asks him what is written in the law. He answered, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’” Then the lawyer wanted Jesus to define a neighbor. To explain, Jesus told the story of a man who traveled from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell among thieves. The robbers stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and left him for dead. A priest passed the man but he passed by on the other side. A Levite came and looked at him and passed by on the other side. The third traveler, a Samaritan, saw him and had compassion. He bandaged him, poured on oil and wine, placed him on his own animal, and took him to an inn. The next morning, he paid the bill and told the innkeeper that any additional charges the sick man incurred, he would cover it. The neighbor, Christ said, was the third traveler who showed mercy.

Later in verse 37, Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

PRAYER: Lord, help me follow the Good Samaritan’s example in the way I treat others that I meet along life’s way. Help me to put aside any prejudices that I have, including race and religion. Help me to remember that we all are neighbors. When I see a need and can help, lead me to give generously and not expect anything in return. Empower me, Holy Spirit. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.