We bounce around
non-sequentially in the Old Testament in this season after Pentecost, and this
week we slip in near the end of the book of Deuteronomy, only a few chapters
shy of the end of Moses’ life. Moses, in this reading, is outlining the many
positive ways following the Commandments will bear fruit for the still
traveling Israelites – in body, in livestock, and in the soil. He wants them to
understand the do’s and don’ts of life in God’s care. God delights in and
prospers those turning their hearts and souls in obedience. Moses assures the
gathered that the incentive to obey is strong because The Law is protective – it
helps resolve earthly squabbles, the dietary rules of the time are for physical
health, and best of all, it is not too hard for you, nor is it far away...the
word is very near…it is in your mouth and in your heart… The Psalmist
confirms that God, to whom we lift our souls, is gracious and upright and guides
the humble in doing right.
Paul’s
letter to the Colossians also speaks of bearing fruit through faith in the
Gospel of Jesus. He, like Moses regarding The Law, tells them the Word of Jesus
is close as the Gospel has come to them, and in turn, to us all. We will bear
its fruit in every good work as we grow in the
knowledge of God.
The
lawyer in the passage from Luke speaks words that are so familiar we could
recite them yet we still find them difficult to live. This was a shocking
parable in its time and might be in our own day if we use a substitute for
Samaritan such as Satanist and highly contagious for the man
beset by robbers on the road, or, still tragically, as our Friends of Color can
attest, simply the wrong skin tone, or gay. Perhaps, in that way, we can
understand the apprehension of those who passed by without helping. One’s
adherence to The Law that forbade touching one who is “unclean” is
extra-convenient when faced with a distasteful situation. And just imagine the
utter amazement of on-lookers that this victim would be helped by so unlikely a
person – a foreigner, a stranger, one not like themselves.
The
“Summary of the Law” as the sentence uttered by the lawyer is known, gives us
everything we need to hear, understand, and accept as the way of the Gospel. It
is a succinct and complete restatement of all of God’s Commandments. If we
truly love God so completely in heart, soul, strength, and mind, we’d never
consider coveting, killing, thieving, adultering, etc. Living as the
personification of that deep love is our sole purpose for being as well as to
absolutely love our neighbors as we love ourselves – that is, to love our
neighbors as if they truly are our selves, all of us being
created by and through God’s unlimitable, unconditional love.
Then
our lawyer, very learned in The Law, wanting to justify himself, continues
and gets more legalistic in his question “who is my neighbor?” The
answer is clear, simple, yet complex. From the parable Jesus shares, even the
lawyer understands we are to show mercy to everyone, whether liked,
unliked, feared, mistrusted, dangerous, contagious, annoying, wrong politics,
wrong age or gender-identity-affinity, wrong religion or skin color or legal
status, etc. Especially, anyone who needs help is our neighbor, and we become
as the Samaritan when we have or can find the means or ability to gather other
neighbors to give help. Our neighbor is us. If we cannot
love ourselves, we cannot love God or our neighbor. If we are mistreating our
neighbor, we are reflecting how we love – or don’t love or are afraid to love –
ourselves. We’ve too long been acculturated to worry about being conceited
instead of loving ourselves for the miracle of Creation that we are, warts,
flaws, and all; and as a temple of God, Our Lord Jesus, and the Holy Spirit who
dwell within us.
Paul
prayed, as we must, for our strength, endurance, and patience from God. The
Samaritan showed mercy ~ above and beyond ~ Jesus us tells us to go and
do likewise. We must hear, taste, ingest, digest, live into, and breathe
through the words again: You shall love the Lord your God with all your
heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your
mind; and your neighbor as yourself. Love God. Love you. Love your neighbor. 1, 2, 3. It is Simple. It is
Difficult. It is extremely Necessary, now more than ever.
LET
US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY
Leader: ~ O Gracious Lord, free us from the darkness of the fear
and suspicion of those, even if unlike ourselves, who are our neighbors in Your
sight. Open us to the knowledge of Your will through Your word already within
us, that our acts of love and kindness will be a true measure of our full faith
in Christ.
O God of Goodness and Love
RESPONSE:
To You we lift our souls
~ O Gracious Lord, grant enduring patience and soul
support to those upright and honorable people who uphold the principles of
integrity, compassion, and mercy, serving now in national and local
governments, across Your Earth. We pray especially for: add your own
petitions
O
God of Goodness and Love
To
You we lift our souls
~ O Gracious Lord, rescue and give hope to the poor,
the weak, and the sick, and give comfort and strength to all who assist them.
We now join our voices to pray aloud for those in need… add your own
petitions
O
God of Goodness and Love
To
You we lift our souls
~ O
Gracious Lord, give rest to the hearts of those who grieve, as all
who have died now shine in the eternal light of Christ’s heavenly peace. We
pray especially for… add your own petitions
O
God of Goodness and Love
To
You we lift our souls
~ O Gracious Lord, we pause in this moment
to offer You our other heartfelt intentions and petitions, aloud or
silently… add your own petitions
O
God of Goodness and Love
To
You we lift our souls
~ O Gracious Lord, we look to our faithful ministers of
Your Word and Sacraments as our guides of truth in action. Endow them with
steadfast faith to urge us in humility along right pathways to share in the
inheritance of the saints. We pray especially for: add your own petitions
O
God of Goodness and Love
To
You we lift our souls
The Celebrant adds: O God of our Salvation, fill us with the
spiritual understanding and wisdom to lead lives worthy of You,
bearing the fruit of the Gospel to our neighbors, and ourselves, being made
strong in Your glorious power. We ask through the forgiveness and redemption of
Jesus, our Christ; and by the love of the Holy Spirit, who together with You
are One God, now and forever. Amen.
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