Like a Good Neighbor

Sermon Notes: Thursday, July 10 and Sunday, July 13                        The Parable of the Good Samaritan takes me back to my childhood Sunday School days. As a child I displayed an inclination toward feeling guilty and earning God’s favor with good works, so of course, this parable impacted me. I was bothered that the priest and Levite passed by the injured man, ignoring him. How could the men do such a thing? They were religious after all. When Jesus told the questioning man to go and do like the Samaritan, I thought Jesus was telling me as a child, literally to stop for hitchhikers and panhandlers. Somewhere, along the way, I missed that the “go and do likewise” was about an overarching demonstration of mercy and compassion for others.                 (Luke 10:25-37). The Parable of the Good Samaritan challenges us all to consider where we need to show mercy. Are we liking the priest and Levite, so caught up in being perfect that we fail to model the perfect love of the Father? Do you extend mercy to strangers, but not our family, co-workers, or colleagues? Is it hard for you to be like the Samaritan extending mercy to someone who may not be like you? Scripture reminds us to be “merciful as our Father is merciful.” May we be merciful witnesses for the love of Christ.

In Christ,

Rev. Sherri