Go and Do Likewise

Awhile back, the angels asked me to write on the Gospels on Sundays. With love and gratitude, here is the Gospel of Luke 10:25-37- with a loving angel inspired (and guided) message behind it. 

There was a scholar of the law who stood up to test him and said,
“Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
Jesus said to him, “What is written in the law?
How do you read it?”
He said in reply,
“You shall love the Lord, your God,
with all your heart,
with all your being,
with all your strength,
and with all your mind,
and your neighbor as yourself.”
He replied to him, “You have answered correctly;
do this and you will live.”

But because he wished to justify himself, he said to Jesus,
“And who is my neighbor?”
Jesus replied,
“A man fell victim to robbers
as he went down from Jerusalem to Jericho.
They stripped and beat him and went off leaving him half-dead.
A priest happened to be going down that road,
but when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side.
Likewise a Levite came to the place,
and when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side.
But a Samaritan traveler who came upon him
was moved with compassion at the sight.
He approached the victim,
poured oil and wine over his wounds and bandaged them.
Then he lifted him up on his own animal,
took him to an inn, and cared for him.
The next day he took out two silver coins
and gave them to the innkeeper with the instruction,
‘Take care of him.
If you spend more than what I have given you,
I shall repay you on my way back.’
Which of these three, in your opinion,
was neighbor to the robbers’ victim?”
He answered, “The one who treated him with mercy.”
Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The scholar of the law has demonstrated a clear grasp of the Mosaic Law, quoting a composite of Leviticus (19:18), Deuteronomy (6:5), and Joshua (22:5) to answer Jesus’ question about the teaching of the law. But Jesus will now take him much further in his understanding by demonstrating that the “neighbor” he seeks can even be one he despises as enemy. Because cultural and religious history had turned Jews and Samaritans into bitter opponents, Jesus casts a Samaritan as hero of his story in order to demonstrate the primacy of love.

Jesus intentionally scripts the story to include a “priest” and “Levite” and places them in context that contrasts the demands of love with the legalism that infected the religion of the day like a cancer. Many Levites who served as Temple assistants in the Jerusalem Temple, lived in Jericho, about seventeen miles away. The road between was known to be dangerous; in fact, one stretch was called the “way of blood” because of frequent robberies and killings.

The priest and Levite observe the strict requirements of the Law, staying away from the victim in order to avoid ritual impurity on their way to serve in the Temple. But Jesus seeks to show a better way and his role model is a social outcast- a Samaritan who goes well beyond any reasonable expectations to care for the victim. He washes and anoints the man and then bandages him, probably with torn strips of his own clothing. He leaves a large amount of money for his care and promises more if that’s not enough. 

Now Jesus asks the scholar to answer his own question about  which one was the neighbor. Mercy is the attribute of God that makes us like Him. Only with a merciful heart can we love our neighbor as ourselves- and is what is needed to be a neighbor. [see reference] 

“Jesus loves you entirely and has set an example for all . Jesus’ love surpasses the human heart – a Divine love that is so strong, it is eternal , unconditional and Divinely understanding. Using this Love within your life for others will get the attention of the Lord, and increase the Love within everyone. Loving your neighbor as yourself brings blessings upon every person you love. Love is what heals and the Love of Christ is with you beloved, and will always be with you. Love one another and Love God first beloved- who loves you entirely and the most. Jesus will always help you love and so will God when you ask sincerely. Love will overflow within you and others when all choose to love openly and choosing God first is being asked and required from God Himself- who loves you. God is merciful and loves you with His Holy and unlimited and eternal Love and will always be with you.” ~ The Angels 

reference: Workbook for Lectors, Gospel Readers, and Proclaimers of the Word