Who is my neighbor?

July 10, 1016

8^th Sunday after Pentecost

Deuteronomy 30:9-14

Psalm 25:1-10

Colossians 1:1-14

Luke 10:25-37

Here is the sermon from this weekend.  Before worship, I asked people for the following fill ins, in the style of Mad Libs.  As you read the sermon, I included the responses from worship on Saturday night.  

Name of a person, name of a town, name of a town, a group of people, a nice person/person of good standing, a nice person/person of good standing, a mean person/person with a sketchy background, a mode of transportation, a safe place, a unit of money.  

At the end of the sermon, you can see what people said at 8 and 9:30 on Sunday.  

Please pray with me,

May the words of my mouth and the meditations of all of our hearts be acceptable in your sight, O God, our rock, our strength and our redeemer.  Amen. 

I have to tell you, I love our gospel lesson for today…it is one that you may have heard before, but it is one that continually speaks to us.  Especially as we hear news stories week after week of different groups or races of people who are being hurt or killed because of who they are. 

This passage calls us to think about who we are…who the people are who are around us…and most importantly, who Jesus calls us to be in this global and local community. 

Let’s listen to the gospel lesson again…

            Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he said, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the law? What do you read there?” He answered, “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.” And he said to him, “You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.” But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

Jesus replied, “June was going down from Robesonia to Clearwater, and fell into the hands of the mob/mafia, who stripped her, beat her, and went away, leaving her half dead.  Now by chance Pastor Jen was going down that road; and when she saw her, she passed by on the other side.  So likewise Vicar Bonnie, when he came to the place and saw her, passed by on the other side.  But The Grinch while traveling came near her; and when he saw her, he was moved with pity.  He went to her and bandaged her wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put her on his own motorcycle, brought her to the church, and took care of her.  The next day he took out two quarters, gave them to the person in charge, and said, ‘Take care of her; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.’  Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the woman who fell into the hands of the mob?”  He said, “The one who showed her mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

And that’s what we call Bible Mad Libs.  Fun, huh? 

I think that hearing scripture in a different way, helps us to hear the stories and the message of Jesus in a new light.  While we may have a hard time understanding the cultural differences between Samaritans, Levites and priest, when we think about we trust or don’t trust, it brings the gospel to light in a new way. 

Maybe as you hear this story…and hear about the different characters you may ask yourself, “Where do I fit into the story?”

I have often asked that question when listening to this passage. 

Who am I?  Who are you? 

Do you connect with the priest and the Levite?  The ones that passed right by?  Oh, that’s a guilty place to be, isn’t it?  Because, like them, we know better…we know that we are called to serve our neighbors and love them, but we don’t always get it just right.  We may neglect to care for someone physically, emotionally, or spiritually.  Sometimes we may neglect or miss the opportunity to proclaim the good news of Christ…just because we are too busy.  Or, because we think that perhaps that person isn’t someone who needs to hear the saving grace of God.  We cross on the other side of the street and keep going.

Well, get ready, but if you’re going to associate with those two guys, well then you might as well associate with the robbers.  The robbers you say?  No, not me…but what’s the difference – rejecting the injured man on the side of the road or putting him there in the first place?  Both are pretty bad. 

Okay, so maybe you connect with the innkeeper.  You are one who is willing to take care of someone in need.  Many of us have done that sort of thing at one time or another, haven’t we?  And without even getting paid for it, as the innkeeper did.  At least the innkeeper comes of better than the priest and the Levite and the robbers.  He is on the positive side of the equation, willing to help when the opportunity presents itself. 

Maybe you can identify with the victim.  You’ve been hurt or ignored by others or you’ve been passed by…Theologically we might even be able to make a case for that.  The condition the man found himself in by the side of the road is sort of like the condition we find ourselves in when we realize who we really are.  We are sinful beings, when left to our own devices, we will mess up, we will feel guilty and unworthy.  Sometimes that guilt and unworthiness is worst when it comes from ourselves. 

Well, that leaves the Samaritan, doesn’t it?  While we’d all wish that’s who we could be, let’s put Jesus in that role.    

Jesus comes to us, no matter what our condition.  Whether we are happy in life and love and work or not…Jesus meets us on the road. 

We may be suffering, hurt, sick, or beaten, Jesus comes to meet us on the road. 

Try as we might, we cannot always be the Samaritan.  From time to time we will be, but other times we will be the victim, or the ones who put him there and ignored him, sometimes we will be the one who carries him or cares for him…but Jesus is the one who will save him. 

I heard someone say, we’re not here to save the world, Jesus did a pretty good job of that 2000 years ago.  We’re here to tell people about that saving grace.  We are here to tell people about God’s amazing saving grace that extends to all people.  A saving grace that does not discriminate.  A saving grace that extends to the people and places that we think are least likely…like to me…and to you….and we rejoice in that. 

In that joy, we reach out to those who are hurt, struggling, discriminated against and hurt. We foster a space, created by God’s grace for all of God’s children to know of God’s love in their lives. 

We pray for those who do not have that space and who do not feel God’s grace.  We pray for those we have put on the side of the road and those whom we have walked by.  We pray for the strength to be a voice to the voiceless and a haven love and grace for those who do not feel welcome. 

I pray, that as we reflect and respond to the news and to violence and hate in our broken world, that we respond with compassion, mercy and God’s grace….knowing that it is extended to us and that because of that grace, we are able to love and serve others. 

And now may the peace, which passes all understanding, keep our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus and let all God’s people say, amen. 

8:00 Sunday

Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he said, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the law? What do you read there?” He answered, “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.” And he said to him, “You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.” But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

Jesus replied, “Josh M. was going down from Philly to Hershey, and fell into the hands of the a clan, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead.  Now by chance Jane Z.  was going down that road; and when she saw him, she passed by on the other side.  So likewise Pastor Jen, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.  But The Devil while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity.  He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him in his own car, brought him home, and took care of him.  The next day he took out two quarters, gave them to the person in charge, and said, ‘Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.’  Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of a clan?”  He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

9:30 Sunday

Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he said, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the law? What do you read there?” He answered, “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.” And he said to him, “You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.” But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

Jesus replied, “Eric H. was going down from Robesonia to Ephrata, and fell into the hands of the members of Trinity Lutheran Church, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead.  Now by chance Denny B. was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.  So likewise Louise B., when she came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.  But The Grinch while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity.  He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own Big Wheels, brought him to the Motel Deska, and took care of him.  The next day he took out two million dollars, gave them to the person in charge, and said, ‘Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.’  Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the congregation of Trinity?”  He said, “The one who showed her mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”