Today’s Scripture Readings

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 neighbour 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 neighbour?’ Jesus replied, ‘A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan while travelling 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 animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, 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 neighbour to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?’ He said, ‘The one who showed him mercy.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Go and do likewise.’

Life is yours if the basis of your living is love.

A simple statement and very challenging to live if we take it seriously. Every day we are gifted with numerous invitations to be a ‘good Samaritan,’ to show our love by being generous in our response to the needs of another. The invitations may not require grand gestures on our behalf. The invitations may be as simple as calling someone who we know is going through a hard time, or to listen patiently to an oft repeated story from a lonely friend, or in the carpark to offer to help a struggling parent load the bags of groceries into the back of their car or simply, a pause to give someone directions.

We are living in a very ‘I’ focused society. We keep our eyes averted in case someone is going to ask us something. We ‘cross the road’ to keep from being bothered. Yet the command from Jesus is so simple, ‘dare’ to see the need of the other and respond in love.

If we take the time to reflect over the week just gone, are we able to identify times when we have been responsive in love.

So, Good Samaritans, may this day be a day of loving response and ‘Go and do likewise.’