Luke 10:25 An expert in Torah stood up to try and trap him by asking, “Rabbi, what should I do to obtain eternal life?” 26 But Yeshua said to him, “What is written in the Torah? How do you read it?” 27 He answered, “You are to love Adonai your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength and with all your understanding; and your neighbor as yourself.”[Luke 10:27 Deuteronomy 6:5; Leviticus 19:18] 28 “That’s the right answer,” Yeshua said. “Do this, and you will have life.”
29 But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Yeshua, “And who is my ‘neighbor’?” 30 Taking up the question, Yeshua said: “A man was going down from Yerushalayim to Yericho when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him naked and beat him up, then went off, leaving him half dead. 31 By coincidence, a cohen was going down on that road; but when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 Likewise a Levi who reached the place and saw him also passed by on the other side.
33 “But a man from Shomron who was traveling came upon him; and when he saw him, he was moved with compassion. 34 So he went up to him, put oil and wine on his wounds and bandaged them. Then he set him on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day, he took out two days’ wages, gave them to the innkeeper and said, ‘Look after him; and if you spend more than this, I’ll pay you back when I return.’ 36 Of these three, which one seems to you to have become the ‘neighbor’ of the man who fell among robbers?” 37 He answered, “The one who showed mercy toward him.” Yeshua said to him, “You go and do as he did.” (Complete Jewish Bible).
29 But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Yeshua, “And who is my ‘neighbor’?” 30 Taking up the question, Yeshua said: “A man was going down from Yerushalayim to Yericho when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him naked and beat him up, then went off, leaving him half dead. 31 By coincidence, a cohen was going down on that road; but when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 Likewise a Levi who reached the place and saw him also passed by on the other side.
33 “But a man from Shomron who was traveling came upon him; and when he saw him, he was moved with compassion. 34 So he went up to him, put oil and wine on his wounds and bandaged them. Then he set him on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day, he took out two days’ wages, gave them to the innkeeper and said, ‘Look after him; and if you spend more than this, I’ll pay you back when I return.’ 36 Of these three, which one seems to you to have become the ‘neighbor’ of the man who fell among robbers?” 37 He answered, “The one who showed mercy toward him.” Yeshua said to him, “You go and do as he did.” (Complete Jewish Bible).
Prayer.
How was your week? God is always faithful.
In voting:
In voting:
1. Be informed through the Gospel.
2. Be informed on the issues and the candidates.
In today's world, it is easy to reach out to people but hard to connect into authentic community.
In today's world, it is easy to reach out to people but hard to connect into authentic community.
What is the true meaning of the story of the Good Samaritan because we are too familiar with this story?
Why is a Samaritan, a non Jew, is able to care for a beaten up man on the road to Jericho rather a Jewish Rabbi and Priest?
1. Jesus is referring to all of us because we would rather do things our way rather than God's way.
2. The priest came along, but refused to help because he felt he had more important things to do for God in the Temple in Jerusalem.
3. The Levite comes along but did not want to get involved so he passed the beaten man on the other side of the road.
4. Then a Samaritan comes along and takes care of the man carrying him to a place to be taken care paying the man's bills to get him well.
In today's world an Islamic center to fully help a Jewish synagogue that was shot at by a white nationist killing and wounding many.
Where are the Christians and the churches?
Jesus did this for us in His suffering and death on the cross.
We are the ones to help others who are marginalized and rejected by the society and even the church.
If we are the ones who need Jesus, how can we not help others in need.
As Father Henri Nouwen has said we are wounded healers called to assist and be there for others needing healers.
The church must be the ones to assist the hurting especially as Pope Francis has told us in the quote Pastor Jeff read.
We receive God's Grace to give this Grace to all other people as Tim Keller was also quoted by Pastor Jeff.
Pastor Jeff quotes G.K. Chesterton about the missing umbrella in a church he visited saying this church is his church.
All of us need Jesus as much as anyone, but this should encourage us to go to others who need Jesus too.
Example is the caravan of Central and South Americans coming to the United States to escape poverty and violence for a better life.
May we at Mission Valley Church of the Nazarene go and do the same as the Mexican people are doing for them in Mexico.
The coming to the Eucharist to pray and be as the Good Samaritan did.
Prayer and Benediction.
Prayer and Benediction.
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