The Good Samaritan

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As You Deserve

Today is Monday the 5th of October, in the 27th week of Ordinary Time.

Hannah Boesen with The Porter’s Gate sings, ‘As You Deserve’. As you arrive at prayer today, lay down your fear. Receive the grace of being in the presence of the God of love in this moment.

3:29

Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Luke.

Luke 10:25-37

Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. ‘Teacher,’ he said, ‘what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ He said to him, ‘What is written in the law? What do you read there?’ He answered, ‘You shall 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 your neighbour as yourself.’ And he said to him, ‘You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.’

But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, ‘And who is my neighbour?’ Jesus replied, ‘A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan while travelling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, “Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.” Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbour to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?’ He said, ‘The one who showed him mercy.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Go and do likewise.’

6:48

In today’s scripture we hear a parable, possibly the best known of all Jesus’ parables. It can be easy, with familiarity, to just jump to the end and offer a simple response. Instead, let’s take a moment to seek a deeper connection, using the imagination to place ourselves there within the experience.

Imagine the trail road through the desert wilderness connecting Jerusalem and Jericho. Along the ways, places quiet and remote enough for thieves to lie in wait.

You see the violence and the victim left wounded and barely alive, see the Levite and the priest pass by, distracted by duty. Notice your reaction to their response.

Can you remember a time in your life when you found it difficult to respond to the needs of others?

Now, consider the Samaritan. Take a moment to appreciate the gestures, the words, the reassurance that is offered. As he lifts the man and takes him to safety, reflect on the heart of the Samaritan and how they are able to respond with such generosity.

As you listen to the passage again, consider your own sense of responsibility to others. Who is your neighbour? How often is your response decided by duty or mercy? Perhaps you feel that you are the one injured – how does that feel?

10:33

‘A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan while travelling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, “Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.” Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbour to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?’ He said, ‘The one who showed him mercy.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Go and do likewise.’

12:41

‘And who is my neighbour?’ Jesus asks us to ‘go and do likewise’. In this moment of reflection, perhaps ask the Lord for the gift to act with mercy and not judgement.

14:11

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be

World without end

Amen