Reflection from our Co-Pastors

Tuesday, February 17, 2022

The Good Samaritan again?



Remember the Good Samaritan, probably the most famous among Jesus’ parables. In case you are not familiar, or are interested in the details again, here it is from Luke 10: 25-37 (The Inclusive Bible):

Image by Alex Fox from Pixabay

An expert on the law stood up to put Jesus to the test and said, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

Jesus answered. “What is written in the law? How do you read it?”

The expert on the law replied: “You must love the most high God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.”

Jesus said, “You answered correctly. Do this and you will live.”



But the expert on the law, seeking self-justification, pressed Jesus further: “And just who is my neighbor?”

Jesus replied, “There was a traveler going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, who fell prey to robbers. The traveler was beaten, stripped naked, and left half-dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road; the priest saw the traveler lying beside the road, but passed by on

the other side. Likewise there was a Levite who came the same way; this one, too, saw the afflicted traveler and passed by on the other side.

But a Samaritan, who was taking the same road, also came upon the traveler and, filled with compassion, approached the traveler and dressed the wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then the Samaritan put the person on a donkey, went straight to an inn and there took care of the injured one. The next day the Samaritan took out two silver pieces and gave them to the innkeeper with the request, ‘Look after this person, and if there is any further expense, I’ll repay you on the way back.’

“Which of these three, in your opinion, was the neighbor to the traveler who fell in with the robbers?”

The answer came, “The one who showed compassion.”

Jesus replied, “Then go and do the same.”

You are invited to re-read the parable, seeing the Samaritan as God. What if Jesus is talking about himself? If the Good Samaritan is God, might this open us more fully to the heart of God loving us in the flesh as wounded, beaten, stripped naked, half-dead?

How about: God loves the wounded and those despised, ignored, maligned, discarded, useless, lazy, dependent?

How about: God loves those injured by someone whose only intention is to harm in some way?

How about: God loves us constantly and reliably, caring for us, looking after us, carrying us to safety of spirit, giving us space to rest and holding us gently, and then returning to us again and again, calling us to keep up the Good Work.

How about: God loves us more and more in engaging relationship regardless of our woundedness?

How about: God loves us so much that we feel God living in our hearts, responding as God leads and always turning back to God; our burdens become light.

As Lent approaches, we hope to share with each other and see with new eyes what we have heard almost our entire lives, like this parable. For example, we have heard about Black Lives Matter for many months now. We heard from a Black woman last Sunday and will hear from another this coming Sunday. Can we hear with new ears and see with new eyes from our neighbors, living and dead, who we have heard about and from? Are we white people who see the speaker and try to understand what brings her to this understanding as she speaks, or do we automatically translate her message into our white selves? What does it mean to have a neighbor, to be a neighbor? Who is our neighbor?

This parable can lead us directly to the Mary of Magdala Vision Statement that by merging with the heart and mind of Christ, we transform the world. This “is a bold statement, and we believe it to be true. It is our north star and direct reference to Philippians 2:5, asking us to do more. ‘Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus.’ It is not just about honoring what he did and how he lived but rather a challenge for our path in this life. “ www.marymagdalafc.org

Praying for peace, health and well-being through challenging times

+Dick Life, member

+Paul Wagner, brother of Co-Pastor Rev.Jane and her Aunt Gloria Farrell and family.

+Joel, friend of Brad Rouse

+Dave Burgoon of TLC

+Dave Skinner- friend of Sharon Friedman

+Linda Browell - member

+Gale -beginning chemo. Uncle of Gaston Lopez, member

+Harry, 11 year canine companion to Gray La Fond.

+Yvonne Keefe - member

+Michael Juranek - friend of David and Mary Lou Devlin  

+Everly Parks - friend to Lynne and Jim Barnes, members.

+Miles - friend of David and Mary Lou Devlin 

+ Mary Etta Fothergill - friend of member Cathy Engel 

+Jerry Padilla, father and Ryan Cordova nephew of Lisa Jones - member

+Rosemary - Fr Michael's mother

+Mike Gudim

+Suzanne King - member

+Joanne Gallagher - member

________________

A blessed and peaceful repose of souls for those who've passed and comfort for the friends and families.

+Kathie Reiten, mother of Pastor Rick.

+Mary Lynn Eyestone, sister of Joan Chapman Smith, member

+Jerry Foxhoven, uncle of Bill Smith, member

+Craig Starbird, brother-in-law of Mary Lyons, member



+Fr. Denny Dempsey - and in gratitude for his spiritual presence in my life - Gaston Lopez

+Leo Six – Father of Michael Six, member

+Dolores Orsi - mother of member

Jared Orsi