[Propertalk] Fwd: 7th Sunday after Pentecost Proper 10 Lectionary 15 Sermon - Part 1

[Joe Parrish]

Forwarded:

Written by Pastor Tim Zingale 

You may freely use this as is or in parts. Please somehow give credit if possible, thanks! Not for commercial use.








-----Original Message-----
From: Tim Zingale <Tim.Zingale at ecunet.org>
To: SERMONSHOP_SERMONS.topic <SERMONSHOP_SERMONS.topic at ecunet.org>
Sent: Sat, Jul 10, 2010 1:01 pm
Subject: 7th Sunday after Pentecost Proper 10 Lectionary 15 Sermon


7th Sunday after Pentecost

Proper 10

Lectionary 15

Luke 10:25-37

The Ditch and the Samaritan


 

25 ¶ And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and made trial of him, saying, Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?

26 And he said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?

27 And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbor as thyself.

28 And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.

29 But he, desiring to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbor?

30 Jesus made answer and said, A certain man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho; and he fell among robbers, who both stripped him and beat him, and departed, leaving him half dead.

31 And by chance a certain priest was going down that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.

32 And in like manner a Levite also, when he came to the place, and saw him, passed by on the other side.

33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he was moved with compassion,

34 and came to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring on them oil and wine; and he set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.

35 And on the morrow he took out two shillings, and gave them to the host, and said, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, I, when I come back again, will repay thee.

36 Which of these three, thinkest thou, proved neighbor unto him that fell among the robbers?

37 And he said, He that showed mercy on him. And Jesus said unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.RSV

Grace and Peace to you from our Lord, Jesus who is the Christ. Amen

'No don't take my money, please don't hit me again. Stop I beg you stop. Here take what you want, take my wallet, take my money, but please leave me alone.

Hey, were am I?? Oh, I remember, the robbers, I see they are gone. Let's see if I can get up and get out of here. Oh, Oh, I think I have a few broken ribs and a twisted ankle. I cannot climb out of this ditch. Maybe someone will come along. I can't get out of here by myself.

I think I hear someone, yes it is. Hey down here, help help. That's right I am down here. What are you doing. Don't leave. What was that he said? 'He didn't want to get involved. He was afraid of making a mistake. He assured me someone who knew how to help me would come along.'

Oh, yea he said something else. Said he was late for meeting at his church. Some church member he is. Oh I am sore.

Hey I hear some more noise. Help, help, help me I am hurt. He did the some thing. He looked, said something and left. I barely heard him. I think he said I should have been more careful and a man in his position shouldn't get involved in such matters. Someone else surely will come along.

He looked familiar. Yes he is involved in politics holds some important office. He doesn't think much of the down and ousters. Figures everyone wants a free handout. Boy do I hurt.'

I hear another noise. Help, help me I am hurt. He is coming down here. He doesn't smell too good. I know him, he's the town drunk. Imagine that, he's picking me up. Now he is putting in the back seat of his car. Where are we going? to the hospital. Well, can you beat that, the town drunk is helping me when those other two men couldn't get involved. Imagine that .,...."

I am sure all of you guessed that was a modern parable of the good Samaritan. The good Samaritan can be the most unexpected person who is willing to give of himself/herself in a situation which calls for action. A person who is willing to give with out thinking of the cost, the cost of the involvement, is what a good Samaritan is all about.

The other two men weighted their response and found that giving of themselves was too great a price to pay.

When they might give, it would be so they could feel good. Giving of self can be a very selfish act as we weigh what kinds of rewards we can achieve. However in this parable, Jesus is speaking about giving without counting, or measuring the rewards. Jesus says we are to give from a caring, unselfish, loving heart. Giving because you enjoy and want to give of yourself freely.

This is one level of looking at this parable. This morning I would also like to look at this parable in another level.

The first question the lawyer asked Jesus was "Teacher what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" He is looking for the good life, the meaningful life, the satisfying life, the life which God intended for him to have. The life that is in a right relationship with God and all of his creation.

He is asking," how can I get out of the ditches of brokenness, separation, hatred and self righteousness. How can I pull myself up from this kind of life to a life which is not separated from God and other".

Jesus answers him by asking what does the law say and the lawyer repeats the law. Jesus tells him to do it, but he still doesn't understand so he asks another question about the identity of his neighbor.

And in this parable, Jesus speaks to the obvious question of neighbor and the implied question how shall I save my life? How do I get myself out of the brokenness of this world?

In Jesus answer he tells the lawyer that he cannot get himself out of the brokenness of this world, he cannot save himself, he cannot pull himself up by his bootstraps, he must wait for the good Samaritan, he must wait for the Messiah, he must wait for Jesus.

Can you see this very subtle point Jesus makes as we see this parable from the point of view of salvation. His question stated, "Teacher what shall I do," notice the I. He wanted to know how he could have the good life and in a subtle way Jesus told him that by himself he cannot achieve the good life, but only through the savior. And then the savior would show him what was meant by the good life. It is a life of service, sacrifice, and giving of one's self. Jesus showed him two truths in one parable. Jesus saw him missing the point, missing the only way for salvation.

(continued on Part 2)

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