Pebbles… soft, rounded edges. Smooth. Comforting. Start off with sharp corners and edges – that gain attention.
Some parables – like this - we hear so often that they get smoothed out.
Samaritan now associated with descriptor GOOD. NOT the case in Jesus’ time. Then, were associated with “questionable lineage and questionable theology”
Parable that leaves us thinking warm fuzzies about care and compassion has early hints of those sharp edges.
But Jesus changes things.
One of the ways we get the fullness of the teaching is to consider context:
Lawyer – testing Jesus – What do I do to inherit eternal life?
Jesus shifts the narrative – what do you think? You know the law!
Lawyer – answers with the words of the law.
Jesus – yes! Then shifts again – GO DO THIS. Put it into action. Make this not a statement but a foundation.
Lawyer… wants to justify himself – his own actions. (Who hasn’t been there?)
At BS this week – THE MESSAGE – “Looking for a loophole, he asked, “And just how would you define ‘neighbor’?”” Loophole. Hmm. Ouch?
And that’s still a rough edge, a sharp corner, when Jesus enters the well-known parable.
Parable itself not about right and wrong. There’s a LOT of nuance.
Priest and Levite – pillars of society – might expect to help the man… yet they don’t.
Priest: needs to stay ritually clean, so as to lead services at temple. If becomes contaminated by blood, the laws mandate a long process
Lawyer: not only knew and interpret law, but model it – helping would lose him respect in a society that was committed to hating “those people” – loss of job, income, community, etc.
Yet SAMARITAN – comes in to help. Disregards how he may be affronted negatively for getting involved. Puts self at risk – and goes above and beyond to help.
(New car, gold card, just do whatever’s right)
Jesus: invites lawyer to come to his own understanding… even asking him to shift his own bias in the moment.
(Who was the good neighbour? Lawyer won’t even acknowledge the Samaritan, just the action of mercy.)
Inadvertently reiterated Jesus’ point… Not about the words – or about the loopholes –
It’s about the acts - - Of compassion, of grace, of care. Of love.
Shift from who is my neighbour to Jesus describing how to BE that good neighbour.
Neighbour is no longer just an object to consider, but a subject – to engage with.
Prof Jennifer Wyant puts it this way: “Jesus teaches that one is a neighbor by going above and beyond in caring for those in need. The act of neighboring, like love, does not have a limit.”
So too – we can be reminded of the call for justice.
To DO the right thing – even if its unpopular, unsettling, and awkward.
Because Jesus changes THINGS – and Jesus changes US.
Shows us that the kingdom does not have limits – so long as we are willing to be limitless in our lives.
And in today’s world – we need that limitless compassion.
So let’s be bold in our faith, committed to compassion, and dedicated to upholding the dignity of all – without searching for the loopholes… just as Jesus invites us.
Some parables – like this - we hear so often that they get smoothed out.
Samaritan now associated with descriptor GOOD. NOT the case in Jesus’ time. Then, were associated with “questionable lineage and questionable theology”
Parable that leaves us thinking warm fuzzies about care and compassion has early hints of those sharp edges.
But Jesus changes things.
One of the ways we get the fullness of the teaching is to consider context:
Lawyer – testing Jesus – What do I do to inherit eternal life?
Jesus shifts the narrative – what do you think? You know the law!
Lawyer – answers with the words of the law.
Jesus – yes! Then shifts again – GO DO THIS. Put it into action. Make this not a statement but a foundation.
Lawyer… wants to justify himself – his own actions. (Who hasn’t been there?)
At BS this week – THE MESSAGE – “Looking for a loophole, he asked, “And just how would you define ‘neighbor’?”” Loophole. Hmm. Ouch?
And that’s still a rough edge, a sharp corner, when Jesus enters the well-known parable.
Parable itself not about right and wrong. There’s a LOT of nuance.
Priest and Levite – pillars of society – might expect to help the man… yet they don’t.
Priest: needs to stay ritually clean, so as to lead services at temple. If becomes contaminated by blood, the laws mandate a long process
Lawyer: not only knew and interpret law, but model it – helping would lose him respect in a society that was committed to hating “those people” – loss of job, income, community, etc.
Yet SAMARITAN – comes in to help. Disregards how he may be affronted negatively for getting involved. Puts self at risk – and goes above and beyond to help.
(New car, gold card, just do whatever’s right)
Jesus: invites lawyer to come to his own understanding… even asking him to shift his own bias in the moment.
(Who was the good neighbour? Lawyer won’t even acknowledge the Samaritan, just the action of mercy.)
Inadvertently reiterated Jesus’ point… Not about the words – or about the loopholes –
It’s about the acts - - Of compassion, of grace, of care. Of love.
Shift from who is my neighbour to Jesus describing how to BE that good neighbour.
Neighbour is no longer just an object to consider, but a subject – to engage with.
Prof Jennifer Wyant puts it this way: “Jesus teaches that one is a neighbor by going above and beyond in caring for those in need. The act of neighboring, like love, does not have a limit.”
So too – we can be reminded of the call for justice.
To DO the right thing – even if its unpopular, unsettling, and awkward.
Because Jesus changes THINGS – and Jesus changes US.
Shows us that the kingdom does not have limits – so long as we are willing to be limitless in our lives.
And in today’s world – we need that limitless compassion.
So let’s be bold in our faith, committed to compassion, and dedicated to upholding the dignity of all – without searching for the loopholes… just as Jesus invites us.
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