Trinity 13
Text: Luke 10:23-37
+INJ+
Recently, my family was watching a religious show on the television, and one of my children noticed how the Jewish people were intently touching an item affixed to the doorposts of a home or building.
This prompted one of my children to ask, “What are they touching, Dad?”
“Well, it’s a mezuzah.”
They replied with, “What’s that?”
You might also have this question, “what’s a mezuzah?”
A mezuzah is a small box the Jewish people have affixed to the doorposts of their homes and synagogues. Inside the mezuzah is a small handwritten scroll with these words from Deuteronomy:
Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. (Deuteronomy 6:4-9)
In a very literal way, the people of Israel place these words of God upon their doorposts. They are ensuring this Word and covenant of God is always before them as they enter their homes. Still, the touching of the mezuzah also serves as a constant reminder of God’s command as they depart their homes and venture into their day-to-day tasks, a reminder to “love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.”
In one instance, what a wonderful way to be reminded of God’s love and command for your life as you venture both in and out of your homes.
However, as we know, the Jewish people also saw the Commandments, the Torah, or the Law as something they could do to earn God’s favor, mercy, and eternal life.
In light of this understanding, the lawyer in today’s Gospel wishes to test Jesus.
So the lawyer asks Jesus, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”
In a somewhat typical fashion, Jesus throws the question back to the one asking by saying, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?”
And [the lawyer] 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.”
And [Jesus] said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.”
Yet, did you notice in the lawyer’s response he not only spoke of love toward God, but he summarized both tables of the law by saying,
“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.”
There’s an emphasis on loving one’s neighbor, too.
However, in the lawyer's eyes, this is where the difficulties arise: loving his neighbor as himself.
And like the lawyer, you too have difficulty with this command to love your neighbor as yourself.
You want to know the answer to the lawyer’s question, “Who is my neighbor?”
Why?
Because you desire to justify your actions, you want to know who you do and, most importantly, don’t have to love.
So, let’s begin here by defining who your neighbor is, shall we?
To define a neighbor narrowly, it is someone nearby or close to you. This should begin to cause you to think differently than the idea that a neighbor is a person in the home next door, willing to give you a cup of sugar when you run out or ask you to come and let their dog out when they are not home.
Instead, a neighbor is anyone close to or near you at any given time; someone you have the potential to care for or serve. This can also imply that your neighbor may change from day to day and from moment to moment, depending on who you come in contact with at work, the store, or as you travel through life. Your neighbor is even those you can serve through your vote this fall, considering the vulnerable, the unborn and the elderly.
And this is what the parable of the Good Samaritan goes on to teach this morning.
Your neighbor is the one before you now, the person in need of God’s love and mercy.
The priest who walked past the man of his own faith wouldn’t help; instead, he did what we do when we see someone in need: turn away, avoid eye contact, and walk as fast as you can.
The priest desired to avoid an obligation to help and show compassion.
Likewise, a Levite followed the priest down the same path. Like us, he followed the leader; he saw the priest walk down the opposite side of the road to avoid the man in distress, and he did likewise.
In all ways, these two men placed their own needs before a neighbor in need – a neighbor in dire straits and needing their mercy and love.
However, lastly, Jesus tells how a Samaritan comes to the aid of the man, beaten, stripped, and lying alongside the road half-dead.
Why is it important that a Samaritan came to aid the man? Because the Samaritans and Jews did not get along, there was deep-seated hostility between these people.
And yet, it is the Samaritan who risks everything—finances, reputation, and life—to care for his new neighbor, the man he never knew he’d meet that day as he journeyed through life, the one in need of his love and mercy so that he might have and receive life.
The Samaritan in this parable is, of course, Jesus.
And interestingly, you are both the one in the ditch, but also the robbers, the priest, the Levite, and the lawyer.
Isn’t that something?
You are the robbers because of the harm you have committed against your neighbors. You are also the priest and Levite because of the ways you have failed to aid your neighbors, explain things in the kindest ways, and help them physically and spiritually. And in a way, this has led you into the ditch.
Collectively, we must all lean not on our own understandings or abilities but on the grace and mercy of Christ Jesus.
We must look to our Good Samaritan, who permitted Himself to be beaten, stripped, and deserted by those closest to him, His Disciples, and His neighbors.
He experiences this cross for you.
So, how do you remember this good news and carry it with you throughout your days of life?
How do you learn to Love your enemies and do good to those who hate you? (Luke 6:27)
How do you learn and remember to be “Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.” (Luke 6:36)
You look to the cross.
While we’re not likely to place a mezuzah on our doorposts, we ought to have a cross or crucifix near our doors to see it as we depart each day into the world. Remembering the mercy God has shown to us and extending it to the neighbors, we will encounter throughout life’s journey.
But our eyes should also see the cross as we enter our homes again at night—to remember the love and mercy we are called to extend to those we deem closest to us—our family.
In these ways, we demonstrate not only love for our neighbor but love for God.
And in Him, you have eternal life. +INJ+
Rev. Noah J. Rogness
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
Tomah, WI
