Lent Day #29

Luke 10:29-37 (ESV)
29 But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" 30 Jesus replied, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. 32 So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. 34 He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, 'Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.' 36 Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?" 37 He said, "The one who showed him mercy." And Jesus said to him, "You go, and do likewise."

THOUGHTS:
This parable immediately follows Luke's version of the passage we looked at on Saturday. Jesus just told the lawyer that he will live if he loves God with his everything and loves his neighbor as himself. The lawyer is obviously concerned with the bit about loving his neighbor. I wonder if he is hoping Jesus will say, "those family who lives next door" or "those who look like you and think like you". Most likely, the popular answer would have been "your fellow Israelites".

Instead, Jesus basically says: "Who do you hate most? Yeah, him -- he's your neighbor."

Jews hated the Samaritans. They wouldn't use dishes that had been used by them, or socialize with them. Samaritans were certainly not considered "neighbors". The were spat upon and certainly did not look fondly upon the Jews either! It's unmistakable that Jesus advocates that we love our enemies. Look at Matthew 5:43-44 (ESV) where Jesus says:

43 "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you"

It isn't a love that equates to mere toleration either. Jesus says to love our neighbors as ourselves. This story in Luke also gives a model for what that might look like. The Samaritan tenderly bandages his wounds, picks up his enemy and transports him to a place he can recover, and pays the whole bill to achieve a full recovery. He doesn't say, "I'll pay the bill if he can't afford it" -- he offers to pay the bill unconditionally. This Samaritan gives up his own time, energy, and money to help his enemy.

Have we watered down, or ignored, the message of Jesus?

I struggle a lot with passing motorists in need along the highway. I run a tight schedule and tend to have the following choice:
1. Arrive late for a meeting (which I may be running) and help change a flat tire, jump start a battery, or push a car out of the mud, etc.
2. Arrive on time and ignore those in need along the side of the highway.

That is not even an enemy. As often as not, I choose to ignore a random stranger because I can't be late. I know that they are probably running late too -- and more so by the minute. I put my own schedule and needs above theirs -- the exact definition of loving myself more than my neighbor.

What about an actual enemy? What about:
... someone who got you unfairly fired from a job?
... a member of a rival sports team?
... a person you believe to be part of Al-Qaeda or the Taliban?
... someone who killed your friend or family member?

Would you, could you, love them as yourself?


PRAYER:
Dear Lord, help us to understand this very difficult teaching -- not just with our minds, but with our hearts. Help us to learn to truly love our neighbors as ourselves. Guide us though these challenging times. Aide us in acting for the benefit of others, rather than always for ourselves. For Jesus sake, AMEN.