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Who is My Neighbor?
Luke 10: 25-37 Genesis 40: 12-15
Have you noticed the addition to the phrase we have been reading and hearing for the past weeks... “Stay Home, Be Safe, Be Kind”. Be kind? Which is it, treat others with kindness, or hope others will show you kindness? In Jesus’ parable a good Samaritan showed kindness by placing the needs of another person ahead of his own. The Samaritan was on journey, had other things on his mind, but took the time to stop. It may be better to say he “did a kindness” because kindness is more than an attitude or a feeling. The Samaritan used his hands to bandage the wounds, lift the beaten man’s body onto his donkey, and pay out hard cash for recuperation at the inn.
Remember Joseph of the Old Testament? He was thrown into prison twice on false charges. The second time he was thrown into the dungeon, the King of Egypt’s chief butler (wine steward) and chief baker were sent to prison as well. Joseph interpreted their dreams. The chief butler was released and reinstated to his position with the king. In turn Joseph asked him to “think on me...and show kindness”. The chief butler forgot and Joseph remained in prison for two years.
The New Testament parable taught by Jesus Christ in Luke 10 was in response to a lawyer’s question how he could receive eternal life. After the lawyer quoted the law “You should 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. Jesus responded, do this and you will have eternal life. The lawyer couldn’t let Jesus have the last word so he asked another question “Who is my neighbor? - Then the parable. I ask you, who is your neighbor you should love as yourself? Did you notice the Samaritan’s kindness was an example of loving God first and loving his neighbor as himself? That is the heart of God’s law. The Old Testament story of Joseph reminds us how quick we can forget to respond to the kindness shown us.
We as a society are beginning to come together: Some reopening, some reshaping, and always safe distancing. We are reminded to “Be Safe, Be Kind”, not as the world directs us, but as our heart and soul leads us. John, the apostle said, “...the one who is in [us] is greater than the one who is in the world.” (I John 4:4b CEB)
Let it be so, amen!
Pastor Dorothy Hotchkiss of Webster’s Crossing UMC and Groveland Federated Parish.
dhotch2@frontiernet.net 585/406-7030 cell/text
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