Listen

“The Samaritan went to him and bandaged his wounds, tending them with oil and wine. Then he placed the wounded man on his own donkey, took him to an inn, and took care of him. The next day, he took two full days’ worth of wages and gave them to the innkeeper. He said, ‘Take care of him, and when I return, I will pay you back for any additional costs.’ What do you think? Which one of these three was a neighbor to the man who encountered thieves?”

Then the legal expert said, “The one who demonstrated mercy toward him.”

Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

Luke 10:34-37

Think

Who was a neighbor? Who was stirred with compassion, the same compassion that stirs the waters of community and connection? “The one who demonstrated mercy towards him.”

Mercy had feet that day (I guess six feet if you count the donkey… we can’t forget donkey). Sometimes it can be hard to capture what mercy really entails. Is it simply a sweet thought? Is it the same thing we mean when we instruct little kids to “be nice”? What if when we are commanded to love our neighbor and show mercy, it really is calling us to BIG action (sometimes in big but more often in seemingly small ways)?

In her book Hallelujah Anyway, Anne Lamott says that “mercy is radical kindness.” That day on the side of the road, mercy looked like stopping when it was inconvenient. Mercy looked like tending the wounds. Mercy looked like sharing resources to bring about healing.

In a world that prioritizes “me,” community is counter-cultural. This mercy that puts the other ahead of self is radical. This mercy brings healing to others… to all of us.

Sara Hunt-Felke

Pray

Merciful God, today may I hear you clearly say, “Now go, and do likewise.”

And may I listen.

Help me show bold, extravagant, robust mercy to others.

Amen.

Go

In the midst of this great BIG world, may you be assured that you are seen.

You matter.

In the great big crowd, you are not insignificant but instead you are an integral part of the beautiful mosaic.

You are called to embrace the community around you.

The community is ready for YOU.