Luke 17:1-10
Jesus said to his disciples, “Things that cause people to trip and fall into sin must happen, but how terrible it is for the person through whom they happen. 2 It would be better for them to be thrown into a lake with a large stone hung around their neck than to cause one of these little ones to trip and fall into sin. 3 Watch yourselves! If your brother or sister sins, warn them to stop. If they change their hearts and lives, forgive them.4 Even if someone sins against you seven times in one day and returns to you seven times and says, ‘I am changing my ways,’ you must forgive that person.”
5 The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!”
6 The Lord replied, “If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you.
7 “Would any of you say to your servant, who had just come in from the field after plowing or tending sheep, ‘Come! Sit down for dinner’?8 Wouldn’t you say instead, ‘Fix my dinner. Put on the clothes of a table servant and wait on me while I eat and drink. After that, you can eat and drink’? 9 You won’t thank the servant because the servant did what you asked, will you? 10 In the same way, when you have done everything required of you, you should say, ‘We servants deserve no special praise. We have only done our duty.’”
Reflection
God was already at work in the Samaritan before he found the injured person on the side of the road. It is God at work in the man which enable him to respond in compassion and kindness. God is at work in the outsider. The healing was physical, but it was also social because it restored him to community.
Question
What enables us to respond with kindness? When do avoid helping?
How can we help restore others to community?
Prayer:
Holy and loving God, we often only accept or acknowledge those who act just like us or agree with everything we think. Help us to see the people behind the issues and speak in ways which spread your gospel of love. Amen.