One of the most powerful things about the Good Samaritan story is that the traditionally reviled one is the hero. The person who doesn’t belong becomes the example, the teacher.
As believers, we are called to be salt and light to the world. We are called to seek out all the people on the sides of the road who are wounded and alone – regardless of their affiliations, skin color, or the name of the God they pray to. How often are we the ones who choose to walk by hurting people? How often do we choose to walk by those who are hurting because it makes us uncomfortable, because it is inconvenient?
But there is another invitation in this story. We are also called to keep our hands open – even when help comes from an unexpected quarter. We are in no position to turn up our noses at the people God chooses to bring relief in our lives and in our faith communities.
This message is excerpted from “Unexpected Neighbors” by Cara Strickland in the March 2018 Gather magazine.
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