~~~ Jonah 1:1-2:1-2, 11 ~~~ Psalm Jonah 2:3, 4,5,8 ~~~
~~~ Luke 10: 25-37 ~~~
You will rescue my life from the pit, O Lord.
Jonah was tossed from the boat, swallowed by a big fish
and the stormy seas became calm.
The mariners on the boat were spared because
Jonah admitted he was the most probable cause of the disturbance.
God will open Jonah's eyes while he is overboard...
outside the safety of the boat.
Jesus uses a Samaritan,
in the gospel, to drive home the point of his story.
Who will stop to care for the victim on the side of the road?
Not the priest, nor the Levite, but the Samaritan is the one
who renders aid to the stranger.
Samaritans were the enemies of the Jews in that time period.
This does get the attention of the young lawyer.
The Samaritans, in the eyes of a Jew, were lesser human beings.
They were considered to be like 'dogs'.
Jesus is always drawing us to something bigger...
He paints the picture of the Samaritan as acting with kindness
and compassion toward this injured stranger.
It is the Samaritan who is showing how to love beyond.
Who are you most like...
do you cross to the other side of the road
to avoid that which makes you feel uncomfortable?
What frightens you when you begin to face the question,
Who is your neighbor?
It is up to you to take a closer look at all of your neighbors,
not just the ones who share similar life views.
The Samaritan showed great mercy in caring for this stranger.
They did not know one another and yet the Samaritan
left extra financial aid to be used in his absence.
God calls us to look farther than our eyes can see.
Looking farther requires to look through
the unfiltered eyes of the heart.
Can you see through these unfiltered lens?
Blessings to show mercy to those left on the side of the road...
the less fortunate...those left to suffer deteriorate...
those left to die alone.
~~~Peace~~~
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