Go and do likewise

And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, "Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" He said to him, "What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?" So he answered and said, "'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,' and 'your neighbor as yourself.'" And He said to him, "You have answered rightly; do this and you will live." But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" Then Jesus answered and said, "A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, 'Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.' So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?" And he said, "He who showed mercy on him." Then Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."

- Luke 10:25-37

In yesterday's reading, we read of the seventy who returned successfully from their mission. This is the second mission, as reported in the Gospel of Luke, on which Jesus' apostles have been sent (after that of the Twelve). They rejoice in the power they have even over demons, and Jesus said, "I saw Satan fall like lightning." But they are told they must rejoice not because of this power but that their names are written in heaven. Jesus declares that the wise and prudent have sought to know what they know, but gives thanks to the Father that it has instead been revealed to babes. He says that prophets and kings have desired yet did not see what they see and hear what they hear, and in this they are blessed. See Rejoice because your names are written in heaven.

And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, "Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" He said to him, "What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?" So he answered and said, "'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,' and 'your neighbor as yourself.'" And He said to him, "You have answered rightly; do this and you will live." My study bible says: "What shall I do to inherit eternal life? This is a momentous question for every person. The answer of Jesus is to love God above all else, and to love one's neighbor (v. 27)." The lawyer is quoting passages from Deut. 6:5 and Lev. 19:18.

But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" The lawyer's question leads us to the parable of the Good Samaritan, which is found only in Luke's Gospel.

Then Jesus answered and said, "A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, 'Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.' So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?" And he said, "He who showed mercy on him." Then Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise." My study bible points out that this parable illustrates Jesus' teaching of who our neighbor is: "anyone in immediate need, even a supposed enemy. Symbolically, the Good Samaritan is Christ Himself, the wounded man is humanity set upon by demons, and the inn is the Church. Love for neighbor proves our love for God." A Levite is an official helper in the temple, and in that sense is related to the priest who also avoids the man. Fear of defilement by contact with a possibly dead body may have been a concern - but that's more an excuse the way that this story is told, and in this case such a law didn't necessarily apply. My study bible notes that "the Samaritan, a presumed enemy of Jews, is highlighted as the good neighbor because of his loving actions toward the wounded Jew ignored by fellow Jews."

We notice that the Samaritan didn't simply help the man, but went out of his way to make certain that he was fully cared for - the way you or I would wish to be cared for in the same situation. He took whatever responsibility that he could in his situation. And there is another subtlety here: even if he could not remain with the man, he paid the innkeeper to care for him and promised further payment if necessary. I think this story is perfectly illustrative of our ability to help when need comes our way. Even if we can't do it all ourselves, we can find a way to help. I like that my study bible points out that love for neighbor proves our love for God. I do not read this parable as asking us to go beyond what we are capable of doing - the payment to the innkeeper is a wonderfully subtle touch to the story. The Samaritan continues on his way, on his business. But there is more: there is a sense that God places those "near" us (as "neighbors") and in need so that we make a choice. We're not asked to disrupt our lives unnecessarily, but the practice of mercy in some form is always possible. We simply need to take the opportunity, to make that choice. Of course, it is the Samaritan who creates "neighborhood" here, by acting as a neighbor. Have you found situations that need your touch of mercy? Do they come your way in a moment or two in your day, in your life? How does a healing touch, a kind word, an instant of prayer help you to be a neighbor? Remember that we prove our love for God by practicing such kindness, and taking the extra time to let someone know we care. It doesn't have to take us far out of our way or too much of our time. It doesn't have to throw our lives out of balance or off-track. It's the mercy that counts, the love we are willing to give, a moment - or a day - in which we are willing to treat someone else as we'd like to be treated ourselves, or we hope our loved ones would be treated by another in the same situation. But we do what counts and what's needed. It doesn't have to be wildly heroic, but a tender mercy, a kindness, compassion that makes all the difference. Many early Church Fathers read this parable as an allegory (as in the note, above). One thing is clear: that to have compassion, to practice kindness, love and mercy is to heal - to heal others, and our world through right relatedness. Like Him, we can go and do likewise.

Rejoice because your names are written in heaven

Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name." And He said to them, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven."

In that hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said, "I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight. All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him."

Then He turned to His disciples and said privately, "Blessed are the eyes which see the things you see; for I tell you that many prophets and kings have desired to see what you see, and have not seen it, and to hear what you hear, and have not heard it."

- Luke 10:17-24

In yesterday's reading, we read about Jesus' appointment of and instructions to the seventy - to those who are sent out on a new mission, after the Twelve. Their mission is one of humility, and bringing the kingdom near. It is also one of choice, and of judgment. See Nevertheless know this, that the kingdom of God has come near you. Today, we find them as they return from their mission.

Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name." And He said to them, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you. Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven." My study bible notes that "I saw Satan fall . . . from heaven is probably a reference by Jesus to Is. 14:12-15. Note the five 'I wills' in that passage. Because he pursued his own will, Satan is both fallen from heaven, and he is defeated and dethroned from his demonic lordship over the world by the ministry of Christ and His disciples (v. 19). The joy of discipleship is not in authority over demonic power, but in the citizenship of God's Kingdom." It is my opinion that the reference to "serpents and scorpions" is a vivid image of demons. This is Christ's power that is shared with those who are His disciples - but as He says, and my study bible notes, they are not to rejoice in that specific power, but in their membership in the kingdom (so beautifully put - "your names are written in heaven").

In that hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said, "I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight." A note reads: "These things are the mysteries of the Kingdom manifested through the words and works of Jesus. They are received by babes, people of simple and open hearts, rather than by the scribes and Pharisees, the wise and prudent." In addition to the point my study bible makes in the note, I can't help but feel that it is a part of a whole: Jesus reveals in His words and works the power He shares with His disciples, the joy they feel in membership in that kingdom and their part in it.

"All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him." My study bible says here: "Jesus is the Son of God in the absolute. He shares fully all authority and knowledge of the Father, and is the sole and eternal revealer of God to humanity." So, those babes with whom all this is shared are chosen by the Son for this revelation. God's kingdom - and the understanding therein - is for those with whom He shares it.

Then He turned to His disciples and said privately, "Blessed are the eyes which see the things you see; for I tell you that many prophets and kings have desired to see what you see, and have not seen it, and to hear what you hear, and have not heard it." A note reads: "Many prophets and kings of the Old Testament anticipated the coming of Jesus, but they did not experienced the blessing of His Incarnation and the presence of His kingdom."

In today's reading we get an understanding of revelation and how it works in this ministry, in this "kingdom that has come near." It is a kingdom that is shared among Jesus' disciples. It is a kingdom of power over all forms of evil and demonic activity in this world. It is a kingdom in which all those who are a part of it are privy to knowledge of the Father, because the Son (whom only the Father knows) chooses to share it, to reveal it. And it is babes who are chosen for this revelation: not the wise and prudent, who have sought to know these things and failed - and not the prophets and kings of history who so desired to see Jesus' day. This is the fruit of this mission of the seventy; it sets the standard for the reality of that kingdom that "breaks in" upon us and comes near and lives among us. A part of the key to this passage is humility, and the necessary humility Jesus has been teaching to those who would be disciples. We recall from the Beatitudes, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." This is a kingdom, a reality, that is received, not taken. The quality of discipleship is in our willingness to receive, to be taught. What does your faith tell you and teach you? How are you learned and blessed in that kingdom and its strength? How does it share its power with you, "break in" upon you, and reveal itself? What have you gleaned from what it shares? Do you know the love of the Father for yourself? If we have even a taste of any of this then, this membership, a sense of "the names written in heaven," let us rejoice for we are blessed. How are you blessed by your faith? The Beatitudes teach us about the inheritance of the humble (in Luke and in Matthew). Jesus' instructions to the seventy reflect this attitude. Do we know when we are blessed?