8 October 2018 - mercy unlimited

Today's Readings (Audio)

But because he wished to justify himself, he said to Jesus, 
"And who is my neighbor?"

This man knew what must be done. He answered correctly what he would need to do to inherit eternal life. But he sensed even though he knew it he wasn't really doing it. So he asked about the limits of the teaching. He hoped to hear that he only needed to love those who were close and convenient, those who were 'his people', but suspected that was insufficient.

Which of these three, in your opinion,
was neighbor to the robbers' victim?"
He answered, "The one who treated him with mercy."
Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."

There is no one in this parable who quits his job and travels to the ends of the earth to seek people on whom they can show mercy. All of the characters simply pass by the man as part of their path. But the Levite and the priest avoid him just as we often do. We need to become like the Samaritan. We need to be moved with compassion for those whom God places in our path. We need to be willing, when God asks us, to go out of our way and to use our own resources to show compassion. We need to be willing to get close even if it isn't comfortable. Our compassion and mercy need to come first.

This is the gospel of Jesus, and we can't turn aside for anything more limited even if politicians and prophets of our time call us to limit our love to specific groups. We cannot do this through human strength. We cannot do it if we care about human favor. We can only do it if we are slaves of Christ like Paul, relying on the grace of the Gospel that is not of human origin.

Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters,
that the Gospel preached by me is not of human origin.
For I did not receive it from a human being, nor was I taught it,
but it came through a revelation of Jesus Christ.

The LORD will not forget to do his part. Tending to the victim of the robbers was frightening. He was half-dead and from a different culture. When we face similar circumstances we need not fear, the LORD will give us the strength we need.

The works of his hands are faithful and just;
sure are all his precepts,
Reliable forever and ever,
wrought in truth and equity.