Daily Worship

WDJD?

August 30, 2015 0 0

Luke 10:25-37

Luke 10:25-37

The Parable of the Good Samaritan

25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”

27 He answered, “‘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, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”

29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

30 In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii[c] and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’

36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”

37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”

Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”
 

Luke 23: 32, 39-43

Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed.

One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!”

40 But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? 41 We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”

42 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

43 Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.”

I don’t like it.
God, I don’t like this bit.
How could he do it?
How could you let it happen?
How does it make sense?

OK, perhaps glorious death leading his people to victory,
Or an inspiring speech as he passes on the baton.

But not this.
Execution.
Grim.
Awful.
Among criminals.
‘Neighbours’ who certainly didn’t love him.
Who insulted and taunted.
Who had done terrible things.
Why?

At least one had it right.
Knew he had it coming
and knew the injustice beside him.

But of all the people,
God, why would he be the one to get there
to paradise 
with Jesus
first?

It doesn’t make sense.
It’s upside down.

I know you said the last would be first,
that those who humbled themselves would be lifted up
- but not too high please.

But this?
Where’s the Samaritan?
The foreigner who would save him?

I suppose you used a few of them,
over time.
Pharaoh’s daughter,
Potiphar’s wife,
Kings of Babylon,
to serve your purpose.

Wait.
He was the foreigner, wasn’t he?
Jesus.
The One who came
to a foreign land
and made neighbours of them all
even the criminals
whether they praised or cursed him
and came to bind up their – our – wounds 
and bring them into his kingdom.

Am I on that cross Lord?
Fallen among thieves?
Waiting to be saved?

And if so
which side am I on?
The cynical
or the hopeful?

I want to do this
or at least, I want to want to do it:
to love you with all my passion, prayer, muscle and intelligence
to love my neighbour as well as I love myself
though I know sometimes I love myself too much
and my neighbour not enough
and you hardly at all.

So forgive me
and give me
opportunity to help
courage to step forward
persistence to see it through
and willingness to work with others

on my doorstep
in my nation
around our world
directly
or through representatives
campaigning
praying
doing
the work of the kingdom
of your kingdom
helping neighbours along
as they help me.

I pray to the Creator who makes us
through the Redeemer who perfects us
with the Comforter who sustains us.

Amen.