4th Sunday after Trinity – Sermon 301
- 4th Sunday after Trinity
- 10.00 am CW Holy Communion
- 14th July 2019
Prayer to Start
May the words of my lips and the thoughts of our hearts be graciously received for the Glory and Honour of our Lord Jesus Christ. AMEN
INTRODUCTION – MOTHER TERESA’S FEET
Shane Claiborne – a Christian Activist and author who lived for 10 weeks in the slums of Calcutta with Mother Teresa, wrote the following about one of his experiences:
People often ask me what Mother Teresa was like. Did she glow in the dark – did she have a halo? No – she was short, wrinkled, precious, maybe even a little difficult to deal with – she was like a beautiful – wise old granny.
But there is one thing I will never forget— her feet – they were deformed. Each morning during Mass, I would stare at those feet. I even wondered if Mother Teresa had leprosy – but I wasn’t going to ask.
One day a sister asked us, “Have you noticed Mother’s feet?” We all nodded, curiously. She said, “Her feet are deformed because we get just enough donated shoes for everyone, and Mother does not want anyone to get stuck with the worst pair, so she digs through and finds the worst pair for herself. Years of wearing bad shoes have deformed her feet.”
That’s the kind of love that places our neighbours’ needs above our own.
Point 1 The Law and the Lawyer
This morning’s Gospel contains one of the best known stories in the Bible – but possibly one of the hardest to understand – ‘The Parable of the Good Samaritan’.
Told by Jesus – in response to a question from a lawyer – an expert in the Mosaic Law:
“What must I do to inherit eternal life?”
It was not unusual for such people to follow Jesus around – to try to catch Him out and publicly discredit Him
but Jesus refused to be drawn – and instead invited the lawyer to answer his own question – from his knowledge of OT scriptures –
The lawyer recalled the two greatest and most important commandments in the Bible – taken from Deuteronomy – and part of the ‘Shema’ – the Central Jewish Prayer:
“Love the Lord your God – with all your heart – with all your soul – with all your strength – and with all your mind – and love your neighbour as yourself”
Yes said Jesus – that’s the right answer – “do that and you will have life”
we have a God who values love above everything else – A God who loves each one of us as individuals – who’s love is unlimited – a God who commands us to love Him – and to love others as He loves us – a God who showed us His love by giving His only Son Jesus Christ to die on the cross so that our sins can be forgiven – so that we can be reconciled back to God – so we can know what it feels like to be loved and in turn show that love to others –
As Moses in our OT lesson reminds us – God’s word – God’s love – is not distant – not beyond the sea – or up in heaven – but in our mouths – in our hearts – given for us to know and to follow –
We are urged to listen and follow – that still small voice – inside us – the Holy Spirit ever faithful – guiding us – showing us the way forward –
but the lawyer wasn’t satisfied – with such a brief answer – so he asked another question
Point 2 The Good Samaritan
” who is my neighbour ?”
Jesus then told him the parable of the Good Samaritan – a story of a man robbed by bandits -and stripped of his clothing – on the 17 mile stretch of road between Jerusalem and Jericho – a dangerous road for travellers – with many twists and turns – steep hills and inclines –
Pauline and I were fortunate to have travelled on that road by Bus when we visited the Holy Land on a Pilgrimage more than 20 years ago – very scary – looking over the edge takes your breath away – people seldom attempted the road alone –
Jesus Himself – was on that road towards Jerusalem – and He told this story – not only to challenge the Lawyer and his hearers but also to challenge the Israeli authorities – not to think of confrontation – but of peace –
The first one along the path was the priest – He
ignored the man and passed on the other side –
after all –he could have been a decoy – a trap – much too dangerous to stop – equally he might have been dead – or might die anyway.
if Jewish priests came within 6 ft of a dead body they would become ritually unclean – and prevented from doing their duties – until going through a cleansing ceremony – which would have caused a lot of inconvenience and embarrassment to the people he was going to see –
best to keep going!
Then there was the Levite – the priest’s helper – again he may have thought it was too dangerous to – stop – or that his religious rules prevented him from stopping – like the priest – he thought it best not to get involved – he might not have been a Jew anyway –
The third traveler was the Samaritan
We need to remember that in Jesus’ time Jews and Samaritans seriously hated each other – and this had been going on for hundreds of years – and is still reflected in the tensions of today – between Israel and Palestine – both claiming to be the true inheritors of the Promises of Abraham and Moses – and both sides regarding themselves as the rightful possessors of the land –
Samaritans were physically cursed in the Synagogues – So Jesus couldn’t have chosen a more offensive hero for His story – and in fact surrounded by Jews – displayed considerable physical courage telling the story
This time the man is helped – the Samaritan acts – he has no need to justify himself – no status to protect – he was moved by compassion – and responds from the heart –fulfils the duty of love
He doesn’t look at the disadvantages to himself – but cares for the man’s wounds and baths them – puts the man on his donkey – and walks him to an inn – paying for him to be looked after until he recovers –
The Samaritan mirrors the boundless mercy of God – which responds to suffering wherever, whenever and whoever it is from –
Point 3 “Go and do likewise”
When Jesus asked the Lawyer – who He thought was a neighbour to the man – he couldn’t bring himself to say the word Samaritan – and instead said ” the one who showed him mercy” –
Jesus’ response was short and to the point –
“Go and do likewise”
In Jesus’ story – the outcast was the hero – no one liked or respected Samaritans – but here in this situation Jesus was saying – that the outcast – the Samaritan – was able to express God’s love better than anyone else – including the religious experts
Christian faith is not about being an expert or being perfect all the time – its about a willingness to receive God’s love and forgiveness and then having the courage and commitment to express that love and forgiveness to those around us
It’s easy to engage in generalities – about loving others – but Jesus here reminds us – that as His followers we should get personally involved – we should get off our donkey – and help those who are in need – no matter who they are – give our time and talents in caring for and helping those who are looking for help and support
As our OT reading reminds us – God has given us a standard of love to aspire to – and He will never pass us by – He sees His nation Israel lying in a ditch – needing to be stirred into life again – so that His heart and ours can be one –
the lawyer thought he knew the standard he should aim for – but fell far short when it came to the practice – he couldn’t overcome his racial prejudices –
The priest and the Levite faired no better – they were probably sorry they ever went on that road that day – only the Samaritan got it right – his love had no limits – just like God’s –
true neighbours are those who show mercy – who take action on behalf of those who are in need– A Christian who has all the right answers – but who does not show mercy – is not being an effective witness for God –
The point of the parable is not that we should just help the people we know – its more than that – as the Samaritan demonstrates – its also about helping the people we don’t know. Its also about loving our enemies – the ones that hate us – Jews and Samaritans were enemies – but the Samaritan cut through all that and helped the man anyway-
Two thousand years ago the challenge presented by this Parable – must have seemed daunting – but today – because of instant communication – its massive – everyone – in every country has become our concern – and whilst – we cannot respond to every place and need – equally we cannot pretend its none of our business –
Its important therefore that we hold them all in our prayers as Paul did for the Coloseans – to enable God’s hand to touch and support them through others who closer so that they don’t pass by.
The Samaritan came across an injured Jew – who was his enemy – He didn’t look the other way – He looked after his needs –and put him on a road to recovery –
Conclusion
Jesus’ story of the Good Samaritan has inspired many generations to take a positive look at what it means to love and care for one another – and who our neighbours really are –
But Jesus wants us to do more than look – He challenges each one of us to do something about it
“Go and do likewise”
Next time we see someone where – it lies within our power – to help – we should remember the good Samaritan – and remember that Love can never stand idly by and do nothing –
As St Paul reminds the Church at Colossea – ‘its our love in the Spirit’ that makes the difference –
By responding to others we are responding to God – and He fill us with His love – so we can love in return –
The story of the Good Samaritan started with a question – a question that we all have at the back of our minds – and its only when we put on the shoes of Jesus and walk the way He walks that we really find the answer.
Closing prayer
AMEN