Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost (G)

Luke 10:25-37

²⁵ And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” ²⁶ He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” ²⁷ And he 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.” ²⁸ And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.”

²⁹ But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” ³⁰ Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. ³¹ Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. ³² So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. ³³ But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. ³⁴ He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. ³⁵ And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’ ³⁶ Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” ³⁷ He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”

I had read this account several times, and could tell you about the Levite and the Preist. I could even tell you that he gave the inn keeper two denarii. I am sure you think that is really impressive after just reading the story. But where was the man headed? I knew he was on the road. I am not sure that I could have told you he was coming from Jerusalem. But it was not until someone tested me that I now remember he is traveling to Jericho.

I bring this up partly because it was something that I now first remember about this parable, or accounting. But also to think about why someone would travel from Jerusalem to Jericho. Are they going to the River? Are they going home after a festival? Or could it be resembling our trips back into the way of the World?

The Priest we assume is going to the temple in Jerusalem to offer sacrifices to God. The Levite we assume is going to Jerusalem to serve his time in the Temple in service to The Lord. But what if they like the man are not moving toward the name of God, but away from the presence of God. Going down this road to the ways of the world. It is then the Samaritan, the outsider who is being brought to Jerusalem. 

Sure we can talk about Jesus binding up our wounds, and forgiving our sins. But what about being a neighbor to one another. Rescuing the fellow Christian from traveling down the road to temptation. Point each other to the cross of Christ. Helping people see, as someone once said the two coins reveal Law and Gospel being given to for the man's continued care. We need to be turned to go back to the new Jerusalem, and the new Temple, Immanuel. Jesus does bind up our wounds and place us in the care of each other to protect us, help us, and strengthen us in the true faith.