Don't Turn Away: Luke 10:25-37 - Fifth Sunday after Pentecost

²⁵Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he said, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” ²⁶He said to him, “What is written in the law? What do you read there?” ²⁷He 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.” ²⁸And he said to him, “You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.”
  ²⁹But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” ³⁰Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. ³¹Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. ³²So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. ³³But a Samaritan while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. ³⁴He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. ³⁵The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, ‘Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.’ ³⁶Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?” ³⁷He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.” (NRSV)

Le Jour ni líHeure 6622 by Renaud Camus on flickr. CC BY 2.0.

A friend and fellow book-lover has a T-shirt that reads: “Books: helping introverts avoid conversation since 1454.” They’re for sale all over the internet, if you want one.

But nobody sells a T-shirt that says: “Smartphones: helping people avoid human interaction since 2007.” This is a sin of mine that I certainly don’t want printed on a shirt.

We can only begin to comprehend just how much Smartphones have transformed human interactions—and not in a good way. We are simultaneously more connected to the people we choose to be connected to—while, at the same time, cut off from the people nearest to us.

So, it’s not hard for me to imagine the Parable of the Good Samaritan in modern times. People with their eyes glued to a screen are not likely to notice a human being left for dead on the side of the road. Add to the fact that most people would be making the journey from Jerusalem to Jericho by car or by bus, and not on foot. You may see the victim—but you don’t have the time to stop and help.

There are limitless reasons why the priest and the Levite saw the victim but crossed the road and passed on by. It may feel good to condemn them as heartless, callous people—but maybe they’re on their way to care for someone else. Perhaps the faithful were counting on them to arrive promptly in Jericho to perform their religious duties. Or, the dying man reminded that they, too, were easy prey for bandits and robbers on the road to Jericho—so they’d better hurry along.

One thing we can be sure of is that if the priest and the Levite stopped to help, they would become unclean.  They would be required under the Law to return to Jerusalem and undergo purification rites before they could return to their duties. 

Overall, it was in their best interests to ignore the victim, which is exactly what they did. It would be in your interests to ignore him, too.

No need to feel guilty. Just keep texting or talking on the phone. If you’re in the car, roll up the windows and turn up the radio.

But the person who comes to the victim’s aid is the last person anyone would expect: a Samaritan. Most of the people Jesus taught would’ve believed that the only good Samaritan was a dead Samaritan. But this Samaritan put everything on the line for the victim: he risks his own safety by staying on the road.  He gives time and money to bandage the victim’s wounds and put him up at an inn—a full two days’ wages; a sum few could afford to sacrifice for a stranger.  He even offers to pay any additional expenses the innkeeper may incur. 

Who, on earth, could do this? And who would do this? In my opinion, Jesus sets the perfect trap for the lawyer who “wanted to justify himself.” If the lawyer is being truly honest with himself and with Jesus, he knows that this is a standard he cannot attain. Nor can you nor I…

You and I are sinners.  We’re the robbers, beating up neighbors and leaving them for dead.  At the same time, we end up robbed and beaten because sinners reap what they sow.

Imagine that for a second: what if the victim was a bandit and a robber? That didn’t matter to the Samaritan—and it doesn’t matter to Jesus. Yours is a Savior who doesn’t leave people to die in the ditch, even if they deserve it! And it isn’t just two days’ wages, give-or-take, that Jesus gives to save you… Jesus gives you his everything. Yet that truth will remain a fairy tale if it has no impact on how we live as neighbors in the neighborhood.

It’s no secret that texting while driving is deadly. Our prayer walkers were nearly run over, within a crosswalk, by a driver who was visibly texting. Living as you were not meant to live is just as deadly. Our apathy towards our neighbors and blissful ignorance to their suffering are killing us. A world where everyone looks out for themselves will self-destruct the moment one person’s interest conflict with another’s.

But God intentionally designed human beings to depend on each other. Humanity flourishes in community, not competition.  And the message of Jesus’ parable is greater than, “your neighbor needs you and you should help them.” Truth is, you need them at least as much as they need you. Not your talk, your tweets, or your memes—but you.

What’s going to happen, dear Christian, is that you’re going to eat and drink the body and blood of Christ, for you—because Christ was not about to allow you to die in the hell of sin. Then, you’re going to go out into the world—and Christ’s heart is going to break in you when you see a neighbor in need. You may see them in person, on television, or even through your Smartphone. The pressures and pulls of life are going to tell you to keep going in your direction, not their direction. And yet, you can’t turn away. So, say a prayer. Be open to the fact that you are EXACTLY where God wants you to be. Any good you can do is enough.

It is the giving and the receiving of selfless, neighborly love that brings God’s reign one step closer to reality. If you’re willing to take that time—assume that risk—make that sacrifice—you will not be the same.

So, don’t turn away. Jesus is waiting for you in that neighbor in need.