We have just heard this morning three splendid readings from scripture, which we would do well to read, mark and inwardly digest. They have much in common, but what I’d like to consider more deeply is that each in its own way constitutes a challenge, first obviously to those who heard or read the actual texts but second, no less, a challenge to us in our Christian lives.
Beginning with the passage from the Book of Deuteronomy. This is an enormously complex and important book. It was discovered in the course of repairs to the Temple instituted during the reign of King Josiah, in approximately 622 B.C., as part of Josiah’s wide-reaching reform of Judaism as it then stood. Deuteronomy purports to be a restatement of the whole of Jewish law. To give validity to it, the words are placed in the mouth of Moses, who is on his deathbed. The Israelites have at long last reached the river Jordan after forty years wandering in the wilderness. Moses foresees that even after they get into the Promised Land, they will stray from their covenant obligations. So he is challenging them to return, to stay faithful to their God. He reminds them that Torah, the Jewish Law is not something that is far off and inaccessible. It is in their very mouths and in their hearts, for them to observe.
So where is the challenge for us? We too are called to be faithful to our God and are reminded that his law is not something far off but is for us to observe in our daily lives.
The short letter from Paul to the Colossians was almost certainly written while Paul was in prison in Ephesus, around the year 62 A.D. Paul had never been to Colossae, a city in what is now western Turkey. The Christian community there had been founded by Epaphras, who was himself a native of Colossae. But, perhaps just because he had not himself been there, Paul was concerned for the Christian community there, in spite of the fact that reports of the community were good.
It does not come into today’s passage but later in the letter it is clear that, as in other Christian communities, the local people were being misled by false teaching about Jesus Christ and the Gospel. This is the basis of Paul’s concern for them. Because he is in prison, all he can do is to pray for them, so he assures them of his prayers for their well-being. The only hint that all is not well comes towards the end of the passage, when Paul prays “may you be prepared to endure everything with patience”.
Wherein lies the challenge for us in this letter? I think it is all too easy for us to forget that there are dear people praying every day for each one of us, for our well-being as Christians, for our preservation from the forces of sin and evil, for our health and happiness. Let us in turn remember them and be thankful for their goodness and persistence.
Finally, we come to today’s gospel reading. This , which I think we all know, presents challenges from the opening words to the end. The lawyer “stands up to test Jesus”. When Jesus responds with a question, the lawyer gives the right answer, repeating the two great commandments from Jewish law. But he goes on to challenge Jesus, “who is my neighbour?” Then comes the parable.
A man is stripped, beaten and abandoned on the road between Jerusalem and Jericho. Who was this man? And why was he travelling alone on a road know to be dangerous? We are not told and I don’t think we should make assumptions. He may or may not have been Jewish. A priest sees him and “passes by on the other side”, perhaps afraid that the bandits may still be lurking around, or perhaps afraid that, if he touches the wounded man, he will become unclean and unable to participate in the synagogue rituals. A Levite, a type of priest, also passes by on the other side.
Then a third man comes on the scene. A Samaritan. He is moved with pity, treats the victim’s wounds, puts him on his own animal and takes him to an inn and takes care of him. The next day he leaves money with the innkeeper for the care of the wounded man, and promises when he returns to repay the innkeeper for any further money he has spent.
This parable is full of challenges for us, and in an age where there is so much knife crime, violence and misery on our streets, it is almost impossible to know how we should respond. I am sure that all too often we “pass by on the other side”. We find the homeless frightening; we wonder if they are on drugs and if we will be attacked if we make any gesture of help.
So we need the reminder of this great parable, and its challenge to us. I acknowledge that too often I have passed by on the other side. I will try to do better.