Through God's Grace and Mercy
Scripture
Luke 10:30-37
30 Jesus replied, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.
33 But a Samaritan while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, 'Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.' 36 Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?" 37 He said, "The one who showed him mercy." Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."
Devotion
Have you ever been challenged to determine what is the "right thing" to do when approaching a person that appears to be homeless or needy on the street? What flows through our minds is a judgement call: "Am I helping a person or hurting them by giving them charity? They can probably find a job or housing if they wanted to. Probably will spend it on drugs or alcohol. Let me do this to clear my conscience."
These may not be your exact thoughts, but we have been conditioned to think the worse, or be skeptical of someone asking for help. In the midst of the current COVID-19 pandemic we are facing, thousands are hurting and, unfortunately, it will probably get worse. As we contemplate the gifts we will be giving and receiving in this Advent season, let's not lose focus on the meaning of the times. God gave us the gift of salvation through Mary in human form...the baby Jesus. Let's use this period as a recommitment to our appreciation and thanksgiving for a savior, who may very well be the person we pass on the street with indifference. It is through God's grace and mercy that we are in a position to open our hearts and wallets to help our fellow sisters and brothers. Whether we help in a food pantry, open our doors to a person looking for shelter, or give a dollar to a person in need, we reflect on Luke 10 as a call for spiritual renewal. God gave us the greatest gift of all, and it did not cost us one cent.
Prayer
Gracious and merciful God, please forgive us for turning our backs on our own. Renew our courage and faith, and celebrate your gift to us as we share with others. Remind us that we are called to be keepers of each other, love each other, lift each other up in dignity and respect, and treat others with respect as we would want to be treated. In the name of Jesus, we pray. Ase' and Amen
By Kevin Tyson
Kevin Tyson is Co-chair of the Justice Watch Team at Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago and a longtime advocate for human rights and police accountability. Kevin is attending McCormick Theological Seminary and recently joined the Board of Community Renewal Society.