"GO AND DO LIKEWISE"
"To get something you never had, you have to do something you never
did."
Who is in control
of God's grace in our lives? Today's Gospel story really focuses on a Jew who
had been attacked and hurt and literally was left almost dead on the street.
Two potential helpers pass by without helping the man. The person who
eventually shows up and has compassion for this injured person is a Samaritan.
To understand the real impact of this story for us is this: Samaritans and Jews
had hated one another for centuries. An injured Jew would rather die than
accept help from a Samaritan. But, the Jew in this story has no choice. He is
not in control. This is the real point Jesus Christ is making. God can choose
anyone to mediate grace to us, even someone we hate and consider totally
unworthy to be an instrument of His grace.
We are just like
the injured man lying along the side of the street. This is our story as well.
The only thing we can do is be open and to be generous as the Samaritan was!
You can probably
remember the kindest thing anyone has ever done for you, even if it happened
years ago. It most likely involved an act of generosity of some sort. Someone
gave you financial support or a hot meal or a sympathetic ear and some
inspiration just when you needed it. At their heart, all acts of kindness are
some form of generosity. When you and I are generous - whether with our time,
words, or treasures - we acknowledge that we are willing to give something to
the one in need.
So our challenge
today is the following. Will we be open to all God's people, and to allow God's
grace to be at work? Today is a good day to spend some time noticing all that
we have been given and resolve to pass some of it along. Jesus said, "Go
and do likewise."
Points to Pray and Ponder: Concentrate on the following sentence.
"To get
something you never had, you have to do something you never did." When God
takes something from your grasp, He's not punishing you, but merely opening
your hands to receive something better. Concentrate on this sentence.
"The will of
God will never take you where the Grace of God will not protect you."