St Luke 10:23-37/Galatians 3:15-22/2 Chronicles 28:8-15
In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.
A student of the books of Moses seeks theological debate with Jesus. His question is an academic one. You know the type: the kind of question where the inquirer is not terribly concerned with the answer. He just wants to flaunt his own knowledge. Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
Our Lord deftly avoids a protracted conversation of 613 laws. He puts it back on the man. What is written in the Torah? How do you interpret it? He’s saying, “Tell us, what do know? Go ahead, show off.”
To his credit, the lawyer recites the two greatest commandments: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength; and, love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets. But if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would be by the law. Now, perhaps stung, the lawyer seeks to justify himself, to ensure his own righteousness. And again, seeking academic debate, he asks, Who is my neighbor?
Jesus replies: A man traveling from Jericho to Jerusalem takes a perilous road. The road is steep and very isolated. Traveling alone we is vulnerable. The man falls victim to thieves. He is beaten. His clothes are taken from him. He is left to die. Whether he is all dead or only mostly dead is immaterial to God. This is murder. These thieves have committed an injustice against this man in his body. They have hated him and left him to die. This is the furthest thing from love. It is raw hatred. It is reminiscent of Cain rising up to kill Abel his brother.
It is akin to the men of Israel taking captive 200,000 their own relatives! Stealing their possessions; forcing their wives and children into slavery! This is utter disregard for life. It is murder. And it continues to happen in various forms today. Whether in the life of an unborn child torn out of her mother’s womb or the assisted killing of the elderly or in the dismissal of the poor and needy, the result are victims who because of evil and sin are denied mercy.
A priest approaches. Perhaps he had just finished his Temple duties. He heard the Word of god read. This Word has struck his ear. Has it passed from his ear to his heart? From his heart to his lips? From his lips to his life? He too travels this dangerous road from Jerusalem to Jericho and finds himself on the same side of the road as the man who had fallen amongst thieves. No one else sees him. Perhaps the victim doesn’t even see him.
Is this priest also a prince? Is he of the line of Azariah the son of Johanan, Berechiah the son of Meshillemoth those who stood up against their own people for the injustice and cruelty shown to the families of their enemies? For those men clothed the captives with the spoils of war. They provided for them, giving food and drink, and carried the feeble back on donkeys to Jericho. This priest, his hands have offered the sacrifice and were lifted in holy prayer, will they now be used in the liturgy of mercy? No, when he saw him he passed by on the other side.
And what of the Levite? He is of that ancient tribe of Levi; set apart by God Himself for the care and provision of the tabernacle. They were set apart from all of Israel, not for military, but for spiritual responsibilities. They were to move, maintain, and protect the tabernacle, the dwelling place of the Lord. Surely they were catechumens, hearers of the Word. Is this Levite also a doer of the Word? Does he love not only in word and talk but in deed and in truth? No, he too, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. Again there is physical distance placed between himself and the man who has fallen amongst thieves, just as the priest.
Together these two, the priest and the Levite, represent the Church, pastor and hearer. They are those who are gathered around the preached Word of the Lord and His life-giving Sacraments. Together each has received the miracle of Holy Baptism. Together they receive the forgiveness of sins promised in the mercy of Christ. Together, as one family in Christ, they worship in Sprit and truth, hearing the Word, repenting of their sins, receiving the absolution of Jesus Christ, their blessed Savior. When one member rejoices all rejoice together. And when one member suffers, all suffer. And together they grow in grace and holiness. This is what is means to live in faith toward God. This is the Church.
But what of love toward the neighbor? What of those who suffer around us? What of the one who is hungry? What of the poor who cries out to the Lord? What of the undesirable who comes seeking charity? Who is your neighbor? Is there mercy? A neighbor does not need to be sought out. A neighbor is one who is near to you.
Along comes the Good Samaritan. This Good Samaritan is dead to the world. He is hated by the Jews. They do not even acknowledge his presence. A Jew would prefer to suffer than to receive help from a Samaritan. They are an unclean people. A prayer of the Pharisees is that they would not enjoy the resurrection. He is as dead.
Yet he has compassion. In his being he desires to show mercy. He draws near. He does not wait for another to approached; rather he quickly dismounts from his animal, dirties his hands, pulls out his first-aid kit and begins to administer mercy to this man who had fallen amongst thieves. He uses wine as an antiseptic and oil to clean the wounds. He bandages him. Not only does he take the man to a place of refuge, he also attend to him at the inn. It is his time, his hands, his person, his goods that are at the disposal of this Jew.
Yet this one who is as dead goes further. He binds up his wounds, gives money for his care and provision over the next few days and then promises to come back and give yet more if needed! He is as dead to the Jew. He is free to do as he pleases. He is dead to the Jews. He does not live to their expectations.
As such, the neighbor is the one who shows mercy. He is given a death certificate. Our Lord, Jesus Christ, found Himself hated by the Jews and on different occasions was as dead to them. In fact, it is the high priest who says, It is fitting that one man should die for the nation. His death certificate is written. The people affirm this. Crucify Him. He is as good as dead.
Yet how little and how often does it escape the eye that this which is evil is, in fact, our Good Samaritan! He has descended from His throne, assumed human flesh and drawn near to you. He has drawn near to the world, for He brought upon Himself your sins; those that afflict you, and if left unattended, would leave you to your death. How it escapes us that this is divine mercy! This is compassion that the Son of God gives of Himself, His being, His life, His blood, even as the world hurls its vindictive insults at Him. His love is mercy. He responds to your need in both body and soul. His love is sacrifice. It is Himself, all of Himself, holding nothing back, that He gives for you.
Thus here, in this place, divine mercy is given. For it is Jesus Christ, risen in His Body, who proves to be a neighbor unto you. He is true God and true Man. He is the fulfillment of the promise to Abraham. He is the Offspring who has come and has given Himself to be the propitiation for your sins. He has applied to you the oil and wine of Holy Baptism, cleansing you from your iniquities and rescuing you from death. He forgives you in giving you Himself. You are freed from sin. You are His. He who has died has buried your sin in and with Himself. Your old life is dead. You new life in Christ is now hidden. For the death He died He died to sin, once for all, but the life He lives He lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus (Rom 6:10-11).
Indeed you have died. Holy Baptism is your death certificate! And there you were also raised in Christ to walk in newness of life. In Christ, by faith, you are freed to live. You are now a Samaritan, hated by the world, dead to your flesh, freed from the guilt of sin. This is your new reality and your new life in Christ. He has redeemed you in both body and soul that you may be His own and live under Him. His mercy is love. He has responded to your brokenness, your sin, by taking it upon Himself.
There is more! His Spirit, through water and the Word, is now in you and gives you all that is Jesus. His Spirit also links you to one another as brother and sister, closer than blood, for it is thick, bloody birth water of Holy Baptism, from which each of you came. Partaking in the Body and Blood of Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, you are now flesh and bone of each other. It is written, Is this not the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh? (Is 58:6-7).
This is the radical nature of His Gospel, the free mercy given in Jesus Christ in both body and soul. Blessed are your eyes and ears for with them you see Christ as the center and fulfillment of the Law and you hear of His infinite compassion toward you. For He indeed is our Good Samaritan, the neighbor unto us. In Baptism, He has, in turn, made each of you a neighbor unto another. You are freed from your sin. You owe nothing to God. He has done it all. Has given it all to you. But your neighbor stands in desperate need. And in Holy Baptism Christ has splashed you with His mercy, His love, so that you might be free to go and do likewise, that is freed to love in mercy.
In the Name of the Father and + of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.
A student of the books of Moses seeks theological debate with Jesus. His question is an academic one. You know the type: the kind of question where the inquirer is not terribly concerned with the answer. He just wants to flaunt his own knowledge. Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
Our Lord deftly avoids a protracted conversation of 613 laws. He puts it back on the man. What is written in the Torah? How do you interpret it? He’s saying, “Tell us, what do know? Go ahead, show off.”
To his credit, the lawyer recites the two greatest commandments: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength; and, love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets. But if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would be by the law. Now, perhaps stung, the lawyer seeks to justify himself, to ensure his own righteousness. And again, seeking academic debate, he asks, Who is my neighbor?
Jesus replies: A man traveling from Jericho to Jerusalem takes a perilous road. The road is steep and very isolated. Traveling alone we is vulnerable. The man falls victim to thieves. He is beaten. His clothes are taken from him. He is left to die. Whether he is all dead or only mostly dead is immaterial to God. This is murder. These thieves have committed an injustice against this man in his body. They have hated him and left him to die. This is the furthest thing from love. It is raw hatred. It is reminiscent of Cain rising up to kill Abel his brother.
It is akin to the men of Israel taking captive 200,000 their own relatives! Stealing their possessions; forcing their wives and children into slavery! This is utter disregard for life. It is murder. And it continues to happen in various forms today. Whether in the life of an unborn child torn out of her mother’s womb or the assisted killing of the elderly or in the dismissal of the poor and needy, the result are victims who because of evil and sin are denied mercy.
A priest approaches. Perhaps he had just finished his Temple duties. He heard the Word of god read. This Word has struck his ear. Has it passed from his ear to his heart? From his heart to his lips? From his lips to his life? He too travels this dangerous road from Jerusalem to Jericho and finds himself on the same side of the road as the man who had fallen amongst thieves. No one else sees him. Perhaps the victim doesn’t even see him.
Is this priest also a prince? Is he of the line of Azariah the son of Johanan, Berechiah the son of Meshillemoth those who stood up against their own people for the injustice and cruelty shown to the families of their enemies? For those men clothed the captives with the spoils of war. They provided for them, giving food and drink, and carried the feeble back on donkeys to Jericho. This priest, his hands have offered the sacrifice and were lifted in holy prayer, will they now be used in the liturgy of mercy? No, when he saw him he passed by on the other side.
And what of the Levite? He is of that ancient tribe of Levi; set apart by God Himself for the care and provision of the tabernacle. They were set apart from all of Israel, not for military, but for spiritual responsibilities. They were to move, maintain, and protect the tabernacle, the dwelling place of the Lord. Surely they were catechumens, hearers of the Word. Is this Levite also a doer of the Word? Does he love not only in word and talk but in deed and in truth? No, he too, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. Again there is physical distance placed between himself and the man who has fallen amongst thieves, just as the priest.
Together these two, the priest and the Levite, represent the Church, pastor and hearer. They are those who are gathered around the preached Word of the Lord and His life-giving Sacraments. Together each has received the miracle of Holy Baptism. Together they receive the forgiveness of sins promised in the mercy of Christ. Together, as one family in Christ, they worship in Sprit and truth, hearing the Word, repenting of their sins, receiving the absolution of Jesus Christ, their blessed Savior. When one member rejoices all rejoice together. And when one member suffers, all suffer. And together they grow in grace and holiness. This is what is means to live in faith toward God. This is the Church.
But what of love toward the neighbor? What of those who suffer around us? What of the one who is hungry? What of the poor who cries out to the Lord? What of the undesirable who comes seeking charity? Who is your neighbor? Is there mercy? A neighbor does not need to be sought out. A neighbor is one who is near to you.
Along comes the Good Samaritan. This Good Samaritan is dead to the world. He is hated by the Jews. They do not even acknowledge his presence. A Jew would prefer to suffer than to receive help from a Samaritan. They are an unclean people. A prayer of the Pharisees is that they would not enjoy the resurrection. He is as dead.
Yet he has compassion. In his being he desires to show mercy. He draws near. He does not wait for another to approached; rather he quickly dismounts from his animal, dirties his hands, pulls out his first-aid kit and begins to administer mercy to this man who had fallen amongst thieves. He uses wine as an antiseptic and oil to clean the wounds. He bandages him. Not only does he take the man to a place of refuge, he also attend to him at the inn. It is his time, his hands, his person, his goods that are at the disposal of this Jew.
Yet this one who is as dead goes further. He binds up his wounds, gives money for his care and provision over the next few days and then promises to come back and give yet more if needed! He is as dead to the Jew. He is free to do as he pleases. He is dead to the Jews. He does not live to their expectations.
As such, the neighbor is the one who shows mercy. He is given a death certificate. Our Lord, Jesus Christ, found Himself hated by the Jews and on different occasions was as dead to them. In fact, it is the high priest who says, It is fitting that one man should die for the nation. His death certificate is written. The people affirm this. Crucify Him. He is as good as dead.
Yet how little and how often does it escape the eye that this which is evil is, in fact, our Good Samaritan! He has descended from His throne, assumed human flesh and drawn near to you. He has drawn near to the world, for He brought upon Himself your sins; those that afflict you, and if left unattended, would leave you to your death. How it escapes us that this is divine mercy! This is compassion that the Son of God gives of Himself, His being, His life, His blood, even as the world hurls its vindictive insults at Him. His love is mercy. He responds to your need in both body and soul. His love is sacrifice. It is Himself, all of Himself, holding nothing back, that He gives for you.
Thus here, in this place, divine mercy is given. For it is Jesus Christ, risen in His Body, who proves to be a neighbor unto you. He is true God and true Man. He is the fulfillment of the promise to Abraham. He is the Offspring who has come and has given Himself to be the propitiation for your sins. He has applied to you the oil and wine of Holy Baptism, cleansing you from your iniquities and rescuing you from death. He forgives you in giving you Himself. You are freed from sin. You are His. He who has died has buried your sin in and with Himself. Your old life is dead. You new life in Christ is now hidden. For the death He died He died to sin, once for all, but the life He lives He lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus (Rom 6:10-11).
Indeed you have died. Holy Baptism is your death certificate! And there you were also raised in Christ to walk in newness of life. In Christ, by faith, you are freed to live. You are now a Samaritan, hated by the world, dead to your flesh, freed from the guilt of sin. This is your new reality and your new life in Christ. He has redeemed you in both body and soul that you may be His own and live under Him. His mercy is love. He has responded to your brokenness, your sin, by taking it upon Himself.
There is more! His Spirit, through water and the Word, is now in you and gives you all that is Jesus. His Spirit also links you to one another as brother and sister, closer than blood, for it is thick, bloody birth water of Holy Baptism, from which each of you came. Partaking in the Body and Blood of Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, you are now flesh and bone of each other. It is written, Is this not the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh? (Is 58:6-7).
This is the radical nature of His Gospel, the free mercy given in Jesus Christ in both body and soul. Blessed are your eyes and ears for with them you see Christ as the center and fulfillment of the Law and you hear of His infinite compassion toward you. For He indeed is our Good Samaritan, the neighbor unto us. In Baptism, He has, in turn, made each of you a neighbor unto another. You are freed from your sin. You owe nothing to God. He has done it all. Has given it all to you. But your neighbor stands in desperate need. And in Holy Baptism Christ has splashed you with His mercy, His love, so that you might be free to go and do likewise, that is freed to love in mercy.
In the Name of the Father and + of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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