Scripture: The Good Samaritan 'A lawyer stood up to test Jesus. ‘’Teacher’, he said, ‘what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ Jesus replied ‘What is written in the law? What do you read there?’ He answered ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbour as yourself.’ And Jesus said to him ‘You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.’ But wanting to justify himself the lawyer said to Jesus ‘And who is my neighbour?’ (Luke 10.25-29)Reflection:The question comes from a lawyer, professionally concerned with all the minutiae of the law. His question seems to imply that if an individual does not qualify as a neighbour in the eyes of the law we are not compelled to ‘love him as ourself’. Jesus does not give a direct answer. Instead he tells a story about a traveller who is mugged on a lonely road, stripped, robbed, beaten up and left for dead. Two people pass that way, people of his own nationality and faith, but for good reasons of their own (fear of being attacked themselves, haste, risk of pollution?) they hurry on past him. The man who stops and takes care of the victim is of a different faith and culture, a despised Samaritan. Definitely not to be regarded as ‘one of us’. As Christians we are called to reflect God’s love for us in love and service to all those we encounter, without prejudice of culture, gender, ethnicity, religion or social standing. Work out the implications for yourself, says Jesus, not only to the lawyer but to you and me. ‘Go’, he says, ‘and do likewise’. Revd Rosemary
Scripture & Reflection: Second Sunday after Trinity Sunday, 29th June, and for the week ahead:Scripture: Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and greet no one on the road. Whatever house you enter, first say, “Peace to this house!” (Luke 20 4-5)Reflection:Taking each day as it comes is, more often than not, easier said than done - but that is exactly what Jesus is asking us to do. Leaving our troubles or “baggage” behind and to keep moving forward, treading lightly on the earth as we go.Being grateful for all of the gifts we are given each day, the food on our plate, the sun on our face, the wind in our hair, is something that we are all able to do but we are also called to trust in a God who offers these gifts freely and to accept His love and to live in peace with each other. So may God’s peace rest on us all this week. Lyn Hayes, ALM
