After Jesus answered the question about the greatest commandment, there was a follow up question. "WHO is my neighbor? is a helpful question. WHY? Because in our old way of thinking we have adversaries, people we disagree with, others who have done us wrong. We think there is only so much love to go around, so we seek to be expeditious with our love, we want to LIMIT our love.
As we follow the story we reminded that there are forces at work in our world that intentionally seek to do harm to others. For their own selfish or diabolical reasons they steal, kill or destroy. So it is that a fellow was minding his own business, going on from one stage in life to another and he “fell into the hands of robbers”. Through no fault of his own. If not attacked he would have arrived at his destination and would have been in a position to fulfill the purpose of his being there. But, they stripped him of his clothes, beat him, and went away leaving him half dead.
When others are in those tough situations what have we done? Have we walked to the other side of the road like the religious leader and the lawyer? I mean, what can one person do anyway? Apparently, one person can do a lot for one other person. Take the Samaritan who came upon this beaten man. The road was just as wide for him as it was for the others. He was on his way somewhere, too. This was not convenient for him to get involved, he had important things to do, too!
What was different about him? We know that he was a Samaritan. That meant that in this story he was the least likely person to be of help to the Jewish person in the story. These two groups were against each other. Maybe not that unlike the extremists in our political world today.
What motivates his response? We are not told. But as a Samaritan we could hazard a guess:
• Despite being abused, mistreated, overlooked as being a human being
• Despite growing up in a pluralistic culture
• because his ancestral Israelite family intermarried with non-believers… it is possible that he was blessed to be part of a family that taught him Deuteronomy 6 and Leviticus 19:18
When we have put aside all other gods, all other competing interests for the number one throne in our lives, and want God more than anything else... we will find ourselves loving our neighbor! It doesn't require much effort, we override our family's and our cultural group's prejudices.
Being sanctity of human life Sunday, consider being the Good Samaritan to the weakest and most defenseless among us: the unborn.
1. We have a situation where every day thousands of babies are being sacrificed to the gods of convenience and money. Over 50 million since Roe V. Wade.
2. Body parts are being sold for profit. Babies who could survive outside the womb are being starved to death, shredded while in the womb, haeds crushed. Even babies who survive the abortion attempt have been left to die on the table.
3. We have responsibility, both rationally and biblically.
4. What could be done?
• Pray for women in crisis/law makers/ agencies who come alongside to help
• Educate yourself
• Advocate (conversations, social media, legislators/governor/president)
• Contribute: prayers, money, clothes/equipment
• Volunteer: baby sit for mom, care center counselor
• Foster parent/adopt: support those who do
5. Prayerfully step out in assisting. Take at least the first next right step toward anything God has put on your heart.
Who will be the surprised recipient of your compassion today?
