Luke 10:25-37
Confession and Forgiveness
In the name of the Father, and of the ☩ Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.
Baptized into Christ, let us confess our sin.
Silence is kept for reflection.
Merciful God,
you free us to love others, but we neglect our neighbors and follow our own way.
You lead us by the Spirit of joy and peace, but we turn away from the abundant life you offer.
You surround us with patience, kindness, and generosity, but we grow weary in doing what is right.
In your mercy, forgive us.
Do not give up on us.
Heal us, break our bonds, and show us the path of life.
Amen.
You belong to Christ Jesus and you are God’s children through faith.
In the cross of ☩ Christ, and through the power of the Holy Spirit, your sins are forgiven.
Clothed with Christ, you are a new creation.
Amen.
Gathering Hymn:
As We Gather at Your Table
Prayer of the Day
O Lord God, your mercy delights us, and the world longs for your loving care. Hear the cries of everyone in need, and turn our hearts to love our neighbors with the love of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.
Amen.
First Reading: Deuteronomy 30:9-14
9 The Lord your God will make you abundantly prosperous in all your undertakings, in the fruit of your body, in the fruit of your livestock, and in the fruit of your soil. For the Lord will again take delight in prospering you, just as he delighted in prospering your ancestors, 10 when you obey the Lord your God by observing his commandments and decrees that are written in this book of the law, because you turn to the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.
11 “Surely, this commandment that I am commanding you today is not too hard for you, nor is it too far away. 12 It is not in heaven, that you should say, ‘Who will go up to heaven for us and get it for us so that we may hear it and observe it?’ 13 Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, ‘Who will cross to the other side of the sea for us and get it for us so that we may hear it and observe it?’ 14 No, the word is very near to you; it is in your mouth and in your heart for you to observe.
Word of God. Word of Life.
Thanks be to God.
Psalm: 25:1-10
1 To you, O Lord,
I lift up my soul.
2 My God, I put my trust in you; let me not be put to shame,
nor let my enemies triumph over me.
3 Let none who look to you be put to shame;
rather let those be put to shame who are treacherous.
4 Show me your ways, O Lord,
and teach me your paths.
5 Lead me in your truth and teach me,
for you are the God of my salvation; in you have I trusted all the day long.
6 Remember, O Lord, your compassion and love,
for they are from everlasting.
7 Remember not the sins of my youth and my transgressions;
remember me according to your steadfast love and for the sake of your goodness, O Lord.
8 You are gracious and upright, O Lord;
therefore you teach sinners in your way.
9 You lead the lowly in justice
and teach the lowly your way.
10 All your paths, O Lord, are steadfast love and faithfulness
to those who keep your covenant and your testimonies.
Second Reading: Colossians 1:1-14
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
2 To the saints and faithful brothers and sisters in Christ in Colossae:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father.
3 In our prayers for you we always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 4 for we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, 5 because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. You have heard of this hope before in the word of the truth, the gospel 6 that has come to you. Just as it is bearing fruit and growing in the whole world, so it has been bearing fruit among yourselves from the day you heard it and truly comprehended the grace of God. 7 This you learned from Epaphras, our beloved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf, 8 and he has made known to us your love in the Spirit.
9 For this reason, since the day we heard it, we have not ceased praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, as you bear fruit in every good work and as you grow in the knowledge of God. 11 May you be made strong with all the strength that comes from his glorious power, so that you may have all endurance and patience, joyfully 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light. 13 He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
Word of God. Word of Life.
Thanks be to God.
Gospel Acclamation
Alleluia. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and your neighbor as yourself. Alleluia. (Luke 10:27)
The Holy Gospel according to Luke
Glory to you O Lord
Gospel: Luke 10:25-37
25 An expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he said, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 He said to him, “What is written in the law? What do you read there?” 27 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 neighbor as yourself.” 28 And he said to him, “You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.”
29 But wanting to vindicate himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30 Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and took off, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. 32 So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan while traveling came upon him, and when he saw him he was moved with compassion. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, treating them with oil and wine. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 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.’ 36 Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?” 37 He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”
The Gospel of the Lord
Praise to you O Christ
We have a national “Good Samaritan Day” (March 13) each year.
- National news…and especially local news stations…
- Are on the lookout for good Samaritan stories to share with their viewers and readers.
- A majority of the 50 states have some version of “Good Samaritan” laws.
- These laws offer some protections to those who jump in to help people who are injured or in peril.
- I think…no other parable told by Jesus has both the staying power…
- And wide-spread recognition as the Good Samaritan.
- So…we are looking at this story again today…
- Hopefully with fresh eyes and open minds…The Lord be with you.
Most good stories have some common parts:
- Hero…villain…other characters…plot twists…conflict…surprises…call to action and more.
- The Good Samaritan has all of these.
The expert in the law…the lawyer…asks a question to test Jesus:
- Teacher…what must I do to inherit eternal life?
- Jesus answers…with a question:
- What is written in the law? What do you read there?
- During this back and forth…the lawyer gives correct answers…
- Quoting from both Leviticus and Deuteronomy.
- Jesus simply told him he was correct and that he should do that…
- Do this and you will live.
The lawyer had a follow-up question to get more definition to the answer:
- And who is my neighbor?
- That question…prompted Jesus to tell the story of the good Samaritan.
- You’ve heard it before: Traveler…robbers…priest…Levite…Samaritan…first aid…donkey ride…inn keeper…two denarii…promise to return.
- And then…the question:
- Which of these three…do you think…was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?
- And the answer:
- The one who showed him mercy.
- And the instruction:
- Go and do likewise.
Well…did the lawyer take Jesus’ story to heart?
- Did his heart grow like the Grinch’s heart…of which Dr. Seuss said:
- And what happened…then?
- Well…in Whoville they say…that the Grinch’s small heart grew three sizes that day.
- And then…the true meaning of Christmas came through…and the Grinch found the strength of ten Grinches…plus two!
- Did the lawyer really understand that there is no end to those who are his neighbors?
- Did he go and do likewise?
Well…from that well-told story…amazing things have happened.
- Hospitals have been built and named…
- A quick Google search discovered at least 12 major hospitals nationwide with the name…
- And I can name a host of smaller hospitals that have the “Good Samaritan” name…
- As well as retirement centers and children’s homes.
- Hospitals…churches and institutions have been named after this unnamed man…Good Samaritan.
- Most of us know a good Samaritan when we see or meet one.
- There are the famous ones like Mother Theresa and Albert Schweitzer…
- And well-known institutions like the Salvation Army.
Then there are the everyday good Samaritans like the one who stops to change a tire for someone alongside the road…
- Or who helps a blind person cross the street…
- Or who helps someone with their groceries…
- Or who holds the door for someone.
- You might say these are mostly common courtesies…
- But we all know these are not so common and courtesies are sometimes few and far between today.
But more than the name…the thought of springing into action to help people when they need it can…in part…be traced to the idea of being a good Samaritan.
- And…whether we can trace it back to Jesus’ story or not…
- This idea of helping people in need clearly falls under the great commandment…
- To love God and to love your neighbor as yourself.
But ultimately…Jesus is the good Samaritan who has compassion on us.
- He stepped down from heaven to make a way for us to inherit eternal life.
- He has compassion and love for us and that changed everything.
- He made a way for all of us to inherit eternal life through faith in him…
- And when we speak of eternal life…we understand that eternal life begins here and now.
- When Jesus shows us mercy and says:
- Go and do likewise…we are on our way to eternal life.
Well…our family pushed our way into a restaurant on a Saturday night many years ago.
- After a long wait…we finally got a table.
- The place was packed…and loud.
- After another long wait…our server hurried over to our table with menus.
- Diana…her name tag read…and she cannot be more than 16 or 17…the same age as our daughter.
- After a quick hello and welcome…she disappears to serve another table.
- Diana returns several minutes later to take our order…noting the four different ways our party wants our burgers.
- I can tell she’s working hard to keep it all together.
While we wait…Diana is summoned by the patron at a nearby table.
- I can see and hear the encounter:
- He all but throws his underdone steak…his soggy French fries…and warm drink at Diana.
- He berates her for the slow service and dismal food.
- She apologizes profusely and collects their plates.
- When she returns a few minutes later with new servings…he takes a bite…grunts and glares at her.
- At another table…she tries to mollify screaming children.
- Another party changes its order three times.
- She collides into the kid bussing tables and a tray of dirty dishes crashes to the floor.
Diana finally returns to our table with our food.
- She’s forgotten our son’s onion rings and one of the soft drinks.
- She runs off and is back in a minute with the rest of our order.
- She is very apologetic…and Susan smiles and says everything’s great.
- I say…I realize it’s a busy night and I tell her how impressed we are…
- That she and the wait staff can serve so many hungry patrons so quickly and efficiently.
- She smiles a real smile for the first time all evening:
- Thanks…she says…We try.
I leave a larger tip than usual.
- And on the way out the door…I make a point of saying to the manager:
- Diana is terrific…we hope she’s our server the next time we’re here.
Every day…we encounter people who are in a ditch of discouragement and despair…
- Who have been beaten and bruised by the abuse and anger of others…
- Who have been left near dead in frustrating hopelessness.
- We can become Good Samaritans by extending to them compassion…understanding and a helping hand.
- As we make our way to our various Jerichos…may we take care of the Dianas we meet along the way.
Jesus tells us to be available and go and do likewise.
Hymn of the Day
Jesu, Jesu, Fill Us with Your Love
Prayers of Intercession
In solidarity with all creation, we join our voice to the voice of the whole church and pray for the needs of the world.
A brief silence.
Saving God, awaken your church to your truth as it follows your path of love. Encourage pastors, deacons, teachers, and seminarians, and lead them as they seek to learn your ways. God of grace,
hear our prayer.
Prosper the harvests of fruit-bearing bushes, trees, and plants. Uphold farmers and farm workers as they labor through summer days, and bring relief to lands that are parched with heat. God of grace,
hear our prayer.
Instill in leaders of the world a strong love for their neighbors. Compel them to govern with equity and to give aid and protection to people who are vulnerable, especially strangers, migrants, and asylum seekers. God of grace,
hear our prayer.
Draw near to people in need of help, comfort, and healing especially: John & Lisa Mountain, Terry Vernon, David & Carol Beazley, Margaret Miller, Bill Treichler, Shirley Treichler, Hope Garrett, Julia Busby-Morgan. Chad Rudzik, June Gust, Stacey Bryant, Pam Hendry, Erin Shayota, Michael Bender, Don Bevers, Rick Lauber, Keith Waldron, John Shaffer, Jan Johnson, Chis Poe. Provide protection and aid to children who are unsafe and undernourished while on summer break. God of grace,
hear our prayer.
Go with all who travel, and protect them from harm. Put in their paths people who offer aid. We pray especially for the safety of first responders. God of grace,
hear our prayer.
Awaken new life in this place. Open our hearts to ways you are calling us to be at work in the world and our community. We pray for neighboring congregations and ministry sites especially: Church of God – SDA – Bay Point Christian – St. Barts – Blessed Trinity…St. Matthew…DayStar Life Center…Canguros Day School. Give us courage to boldly share your love for all people beyond our walls. God of grace, hear our prayer.
We give you thanks for all who have gone before us and have made your love known. Help us to follow their witness as we await our share in the inheritance of the saints. God of grace,
hear our prayer.
Trusting in your lovingkindness, we place our prayer and hope in you, in the name of Jesus Christ.
Amen.
Pray with me:
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy Name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those
who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen.
Blessing
The love of God abound in you; the grace of our Savior Jesus Christ fill your hearts; and the life of the Spirit ☩ bless you and give you peace.
Amen.
Sending Hymn:
If You but Trust in God to Guide You
Dismissal
Go in peace. Live by the Spirit.
Thanks be to God.