This Sunday we hear one of the most beloved and well-known stories from scripture: the parable of the Good Samaritan. It is so well known, in fact, that it's hard to not lead to boredom. We know this, already, we say. At the heart of Jesus' teaching is the simple, yet extremely challenging message: "Go and do likewise." At the end of the day, what is at the center of Jesus' ethical teachings is not right thinking, but right action. Who among us doesn't wonder what the right thing to do is these days? If the story of the Good Samaritan gives us any idea, it is to do the thing that centers our neighbor's suffering and pain as that which calls us to action — not our perfect understanding of the situation or moral calculations based on ideological purity. The question is simply: do we act when faced with the suffering of others? Having compassion, loving our neighbor, is much more complicated than apathy, but only one is faithful to God's call in our lives. This is Jesus' teaching — it is simple, but not easy. Of course, this is the life of faith and it is takes our whole lives and living.
Trusting in God's ways in this world is the light burden of which Jesus speaks. It is light precisely because it is simple and because it is God who carries it with us. Evenmore, we help one another carry this love into the world. We need one another to build us up, strengthen our trust in God, and carry us when we find ourselves at the limits of ourselves. This is, in a very real way, the gift and power of being community together. So, this Sunday, let's give thanks for God's strong arms to carry us and the deep gift of having one another: companions on the way.
This Sunday, after the 10:000 am service, we will have a reception to celebrate the companionship and leadership of Eva Dalzell, our Interim Director of Youth Ministries, as she ends her time with us and heads to Princeton Theological Seminary to begin a new chapter in her calling. I hope you'll join me in sharing your thanks for her steady and faithful leadership during this time of transition. If you can't be here in person, I hope you'll take a moment to send Eva a message of thanks by emailing her at edalzell@3crowns.org.
See you Sunday,
Nick
