Tuesday of the Fourth Sunday in Lent

Read Luke 10:25–37

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Stories reached my ears of a Galilean rabbi who’s taken Israel by storm. Since he happened to be in my area today, I decided to test his theology with a question: What is required to attain eternal life? In rabbinical fashion, he answered my question with a question. Not to be outdone, I pressed him further: If I am to love my neighbor as myself, precisely whom must I love?

This exasperating rabbi wove a story of a half-dead man on the side of the road who was ignored by religious leaders but rescued by a Samaritan. The audacity, making one of them the hero! He turned the question back on me: “Who was the man’s neighbor?” The word Samaritan caught in my throat so I said: The one who showed mercy.

He suggested I do likewise. That young upstart has some nerve.

Jesus, help me to be a humble, loving neighbor to everyone — even those I don’t like.

Text by Jodi Craiglow

Video from First United Presbyterian Church of Belleville, IL

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbKogveSLKQ