Sunday July 14, 2025

Who Counts?

In Luke 10, Jesus tells the parable of the Good Samaritan in response to a religious expert's question: 'Who is my neighbor?' Rather than providing a simple definition, Jesus tells a story that completely reframes the question from who deserves our care to whether we will be neighbors to others in need.The parable features a man beaten and left half-dead on the road from Jerusalem to Jericho. Two religious figures—a priest and a Levite—see him but pass by, while a Samaritan, someone Jews would have considered an enemy, stops to help. This Samaritan provides comprehensive care: tending wounds, transporting the victim to safety, paying for his care, and promising to return. His compassion is costly, inconvenient, and offered without knowing anything about the man he's helping. Jesus concludes by instructing the expert to 'Go and do likewise.'This powerful narrative teaches that in God's economy of grace, everyone counts. Jesus calls us to look for the overlooked, cross boundaries, make mercy practical, and follow through with ongoing care. The parable isn't about feeling compassion but embodying it—stopping to help those society has taught us to avoid or ignore. It models God's prevenient grace that moves before it's invited and shows up long before it's deserved.