Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.
Luke 10.36,35
Mercy
Jesus’ story makes its point. The stranger, the ‘good Samaritan’, despite all the barriers of race and religion was neighbour because he chose to be neighbour and chose to show mercy.
Stop and Think
For Jesus, the defining quality in the relationship of neighbour is mercy. How would you define or describe mercy?
What might it mean for your to show mercy today?
Choose to Act
Thank God for those who are your neighbours, who show you mercy.
Choose today to live a merciful life, in words, in thoughts and in your actions.
If the Samaritan had known that two Jewish officials had already passed that way, he could easily have said, 'Why should I bother? They cannot look after their own, why should I?' Instead, what may have been a brooding intolerance, anger even, is superceded by mercy.
ReplyDeleteAnger and inolerance are ultimately self-seeking. Mercy takes us out of our comfort zone. Derek