The Greatest Gift We Can Give
“He who gives outward things gives something external to himself, but he who imparts compassion and tears gives him something from his very self.” (Gregory the Great, In Trench) The parable of the Good Samaritan captivates us from a young age. We like the idea of the underdog becoming the hero in Jesus’ story. This despised Samaritan was the only one who did the right thing. We know the Levite and the priests had very ‘good’ reasons for passing by without helping. What if the man was already dead – or died in their arms? They would then be ceremonial unclean and unable to perform their duties. What if the robbers were still nearby and returned to inflict damage on them why they tried to help the injured man? What if, what if, what if… The truth is that none of those things mean as much as the injured man’s life. The truth remains that we often put greater importance on the way things appear than on the mercy we are called to show.
Twice, Jesus quoted Hosea 6:6, “For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.” (Matthew 9:13 and 12:7) Mercy is the greatest gift we can give to friend or foe, family member or stranger. It is often the one thing that the people around us desperately need and the last thing we think to give. The priest and the Levite broke no law. In fact, they could easily argue they were concerned after upholding the law. Like these fictional characters, many of us claim the same excuse for acting like a religious vigilante. There is something very prideful and exceedingly dangerous about appointing ourselves to the position of judge and jury, and the world does not need our condemnation. Remember James’ warning, “Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. There is only one lawgiver and judge, He who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?” (James 4:11-12) The lost already stand condemned by their own choices. They need a savior. They need a messiah. They need mercy. That doesn’t mean we sugar-coat the truth or turn a blind eye to sin, but it definitely means we confront it differently. Every encounter Jesus had with a sinful person focused on their redemption, not their punishment. Can we say the same? Even if we say that was our motivation, was it executed in light of mercy?
The Samaritan proved himself to be the neighbor because he refused to define himself or those he met by the world’s labels. Perhaps that is the greatest lesson we can learn from this man. He didn’t ask what the nationality of the naked, injured man. There was no evidence which would convince the Samaritan the injured man would ever be able to repay him. Nothing about the encounter was about what the Samaritan could gain. His motivation was compassion and love. Plain. Simple. Let us follow in his footsteps and cast aside our preconceptions, prejudices, and desires. We are God’s hands and feet. Let us allow Him to move us, use us, and guide us always to be the neighbor He created us to be.
(Written by Keegan Harkins.)
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