Preached by Sister Cecelia
Holy Wisdom Church
4 10 16 IS 59:12-20, RM 13:8B-14, LK 10:25-37
Glory be to Jesus Christ!
The Lawyer asks Jesus what he has to do to inherit eternal life. Through the centuries we, the newly chosen, have been asking the same thing. The Hebrews had been given many ideas of who their God is and what God wanted of them. Jesus knew some corrective measures in understanding were necessary. Christ’s mission was to reveal God the Father to the Hebrews first and then to the Gentiles. Jesus explained these ideas of God’s love frequently through parables and down to earth examples. He taught also by the example of his own life. He said at least once “Learn from me for I am meek and humble of heart”
This morning’s gospel is no exception. His question to the lawyer was to ask what had he been taught of how to gain eternal life. And the man quoted what was written in both Leviticus and Deuteronomy. His answer was a simplified commandment of Love of God and love of neighbor. Jesus’ answer to him was: “Do that and you will be saved-will live eternally”. The man had known the answer but was testing Jesus. To justify himself he asked Jesus who his neighbor was. (That is) a question this generation also needs to ponder.
Jesus used the story of the good but despised Samaritan to make clear what attitude was acceptable in dealing with life’s challenges. When we consider this parable, which one or ones are we like? The lawyer’s attitude toward the wounded man was just a subject to discuss. To the thieves he was someone to rob and exploit. To the religious men, the wounded man was a problem to avoid. To the innkeeper perhaps he was only a customer to be served for money. To the Samaritan he was a human being worth being cared for, to be loved. This attitude, the law of love, is the one that Jesus hoped the lawyer would recognize as the attitude to encourage in himself. Jesus loves each of these individuals, by being willing to die for them. Which of these individuals are we like most of the time?
The epistle dovetails the gospel this morning in its explanation of love of neighbor. Love of neighbor demands we be just and fair.
Paul speaks of our obligation to love others as a constant debt we owe. We are all in debt to God for the lavish love poured out on us. The only way we can begin to repay the debt is by loving others in turn as the Samaritan did. Since Christ’s love is infinitely greater than ours we always have the obligation to love our neighbor. All the commands to love can be summed up by loving the neighbor as we love ourselves.
Even those who have a low opinion of themselves do not usually let themselves go hungry. They usually have a roof over their head and clothes depending on the weather. Loving others as we love ourselves means to be concerned that others have their real needs met.
Observe three things in the parable of the good Samaritan. One; a lack of love is easy to justify. Two; Our neighbor is anyone of any race, creed or social background who is in need. Three; Wherever we live there are the needy. Are there good reasons for refusing to help? Love means acting to meet the needs in whatever way we can. Let us learn from the Good Samaritan and from one another.
Christ is in our midst!
