Leviticus 19:9-18; Colossians 1:1-14; Luke 10:25-37

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

We all love being told that we’re doing a good job. We want to know that we’re moving in the right direction, that we’re doing the right thing, that we’re doing it well. Affirmation is actually a necessary part of child development, and remains a large part of our psyche even into adulthood. Yes, even adults want and need to know they are doing well. 

It shouldn’t be that far of a stretch to understand that many people wish for the same thing from God. We all want to know that we’re on the right track, that God is pleased with us. As confusing as life is, we know we’re trying our best. We’re trying to make the most out of what we’re given. But how many of us would love to simply hear from God some further affirmation?

Consider then the lawyer in our Gospel reading as he approaches Jesus with such a question. As he asks, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” Luke 10:25. What do I need to do to know that God is pleased with me? What can I do to know that I’m on the right track? That’s what he wanted to know. Thus, Jesus responds, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” Luke 10:26. God has given the Law to show us the way to live so that we may be pleasing in His sight. It’s a straight forward answer, but one that gives us one of the best-known parables... the Good Samaritan.

Jesus gives us this parable to teach the lawyer and us what it means to fulfill the law. As the lawyer summarized, it’s all about loving God and loving our neighbor. But here is where we mess things up. The law isn’t so simple and easy for us. No matter how much we try to follow it, we will always mess things up and fall short. Doing what the Law requires of us is actually impossible... to love God and love our neighbor perfectly. God wants nothing less from us. But we must confess, we’re sinners. We haven’t loved God perfectly and like the priest and Levite in the parable, we all too often pass by those in need, often for our own selfish reasons.

Look to the parable now. As we often think about the parable, Jesus is telling us to be like the Good Samaritan. We must be the one to love and show mercy to all those in need. Yet, as clear and logical as this sounds, the problem with it is that it brings us right back to the Law. And we’re not capable of fulfilling it because we’re sinners. If we were to insert ourselves into the story, we would be the one beaten and left for dead by the side of the road. For the true Good Samaritan is Jesus. He’s the one who shows us mercy by bandaging us up, anointing us with oil, and providing for all of our needs. Jesus goes to the cross so that he may bring us into the holy hospital of the Christian Church. It’s purely by God’s grace and mercy that we become pleasing to God. It’s by Jesus’ perfect life and sacrifice that we are cleansed of all our sins so as to be made pleasing before God!

Pastor Sorenson

Prayer:

Lord Jesus Christ, in Your deep compassion You rescue us from whatever may hurt us. Teach us to love You above all things and to love our neighbors as ourselves; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen!