The Sixth Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 10C), July 11, 2004
Deut. 30:9-14; Psalm 25 or 25:3-9; Col. 1:1-14; Luke 10:25-37
Being called a good Samaritan is a compliment. Of course, we realize that it is a left-handed compliment. Remember, the good Samaritan must be associated with a prior stigma, a stigma that says this person is from the dregs of life, has no charity, is best overlooked, and would never contribute anything worthwhile to society. Then, when the good deed is done, that person gains the title of good Samaritan.
Each year that this parable arises, the preacher is challenged to find the suitable person or group for the Good Samaritan Award. This year an apt group could be us — Americans!
From certain corners of the globe, after all, we do bear an unpleasant stigma. Consider the Arab world’s perspective. We are invaders, and we occupy no high moral ground. Remember Abu Ghraib. And they know who is Israel’s greatest supporter.
Or consider the Europeans and the prevailing attitude toward our exporting genetically altered foods, or the Hindus and our movies with “adult sexual content,” or the people of drought-stricken Malawi and our dietary pet foods.
True, we may think these stigmata are undeserved and our motives altruistic. We may well think our qualification unfairly given, but then, the Samaritans may well not have deserved their stigma.
Of course there is a good side to this. Those whom St. Paul would call “the saints in the United States” (Col. 1:1) have the opportunity to catch the attention of the watching world with extreme actions of kindness which earn us the title of good Samaritans.
We are magnanimous when it comes to supplying resources of goods and expertise. What other things or attitudes could bring surprises and praise from those outside the U.S. – behavior that would gain us the label of good Samaritan?
Today’s psalm indicates a class of attitudes we should note. Some of these would be: a willingness to be taught by non-Westerners; accepting leadership by believers of other lands; humility about our resources and our spiritual poverty; an easy acknowledgement of our sins, shortcomings and needs.
Actions of generosity arising from these attitudes would earn us the title of good Samaritan and also the imitation of the church in Colossae. Its members were known for their love for the saints, knowledge of God’s will, lives worthy of the Lord, and fruit in all the world (Col. 1:10-14). Oh, for such a reputation!
Look It Up
Read through Colossians — it’s only four short chapters. What were some of extraordinary marks of that church?
Think About It
What are some unexpected but appreciated things you can do with your Muslim and/or Arab neighbors?
Next Sunday
The Seventh Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 11C), July 18, 2004
Gen. 18:1-10a(10b-14); Psalm 15; Col. 1:21-29; Luke 10:38-42
