Luke 10-C “He Had Compassion”

S = 10:30,33 “Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead… But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion.”

O = Within this parable—teaching us to live with a view towards treating everyone as a “neighbor” by showing mercy to them—is an illustration of what the world does to us (robs, strips, beats, and leaves for dead when we are of no further use) and of what we can all too often do to others. There is also the illustration of how Christ shows compassion (lit. “to enter into the suffering of another”) on us—binding up our wounds, cleansing, carrying, and caring for us.

A = Do I realize what the world’s ideas do to my soul—that before I experience the saving work of Christ I am half-dead and helpless on the road? Many don’t. Do I see the robber in my heart and how I can begin to treat others as a result? Do I see Jesus as a judge or as the One who truly enters into my suffering and brings healing to me at great cost to himself? Will I follow the example of mercy to others—both family & stranger—this week? Or will my empty religion in the Temple of Self take me by on the other side?

P = O Lord, thank-you for the healing me and saving me from the fall through your costly love. May I be sensitive to ones in need I meet this week. May my words and deeds help to bind up the broken hearted and my solidarity with the one on the road lead me to go to them and share your mercy as you give the opportunity. Melt my heart, bridle my tongue, and guide my hands today.  Amen.