The Unauthorized Homily

By Bill Dunn

A commentary on the Scripture readings from the Sunday Lectionary

(Scripture readings for Sunday, July 15th: Deuteronomy 30:10-14; Colossians 1:15-20; Luke 10:25-37)

HIDDEN MESSAGE IN WELL-KNOWN PARABLE

The powerful political organization, Mainstream Opposition to Repugnant Amoral Liberalism—or M.O.R.A.L. for short—held its three-day annual convention in the ballroom of a posh, downtown hotel. The theme of this year’s convention was “God Hates Sinners.” Everyone was very excited because Jesus himself was scheduled to give the keynote address on Saturday evening.

A stretch limo picked up Jesus at the airport and drove him to the hotel, where a contingent of security officials whisked him through a side entrance and onto the stage. The kitchen staff had just finished clearing the tables after the prime rib and lobster dinner when Jesus began to address the crowd. His speech focused on the need to love God with all your heart, and to love your neighbor as yourself. When he finished, he fielded a few questions from the audience.

One man asked, “And who is my neighbor?”

Jesus replied, “Let me tell you a story. A man was on a business trip in New York when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him, beat him, stole his credit cards, laptop computer, and BlackBerry, and then went off leaving him half-dead.

“An evangelical preacher happened to be going down the same street. He saw the man but continued on, because he was on his way to a radio station to be interviewed about his new book, Christian Compassion for the New Millennium.

“Likewise, there was a Catholic priest who came the same way. He saw him and went on, because he was late for a meeting with the Archbishop to discuss funding for a new homeless shelter.

“But then another man who was journeying along came upon him and was moved to pity at the sight. This man was an atheist and a homosexual…”

A murmur rippled through the crowd. Many people grimaced uncomfortably at his words. Jesus continued, “…and he was also a lawyer with the A.C.L.U.”

The crowd burst into groans at this statement. Most of them shook their heads in disgust while a few got up from their seats and stomped out of the ballroom.

Jesus went on. “This man approached him and dressed his wounds. He then hoisted him onto his shoulders and brought him to the neighborhood health clinic. He went to the physician in charge and gave him five-hundred dollars in cash with the request, ‘Look after him, and if there is any further expense I will repay you on my way back later this afternoon.’”

Jesus stared at the audience for a few moments. Finally he spoke. “Which of these three, in your opinion, was neighbor to the man who fell in with the robbers?”

At first the crowd was silent. Then people started looking around, making eye contact with each other, shrugging their shoulders, and whispering comments such as, “What is he talking about?”  “This must be a trick question,” and, “That would never happen—he’s making it all up.”

After a while, one man stood up and tentatively answered Jesus, “The one who treated him with compassion.”

Jesus smiled and said, “Then go and do the same.”

* * *

In the tenth chapter of Luke’s gospel, Jesus tells the famous parable of the Good Samaritan. Most of us are familiar with the story, and most of us understand that the primary message here is the need to demonstrate compassion. Followers of God must care for their fellow man, not just with words but also with actions.

Often, however, one of Jesus’ other points gets overlooked. With this parable, he was teaching that people with different beliefs and lifestyles can sometimes be doing God’s will better than the so-called chosen ones.

In 21st century America, the term “Good Samaritan” has a positive connotation. It’s a compliment. The word good, of course, means good, and the word Samaritan means, well, we’re not sure what it means, but it’s in the Bible, and Jesus praised the Good Samaritan, so we conclude that it must be a positive thing also.

The fact is, the Jews of Jesus’ day absolutely hated the Samaritans. The Samaritans were a race of people who had inter-married with some of the ancient Hebrews centuries earlier. They had set up their own center of religious worship in Samaria and their own particular method of worship. It was all blasphemy to the Jews.

In the Jews’ minds, the Samaritan were vile half-breeds who didn’t know anything about God or how to worship him, and therefore, were completely out of favor with God—the same view many M.O.R.A.L. members (if such an organization really existed) have toward homosexual atheist A.C.L.U. lawyers from New York.

It’s easy to become complacent and smug, as if knowing some basic truths about God is all we need. But we should not forget what Jesus said to the super-pious Pharisees (who, by the way, also knew a lot of basic truths about God): “I say to you, tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God before you.”

The parable of the Good Samaritan is a story of unconditional love, unconditional forgiveness, and unconditional mercy. This is the way we should act toward our neighbor because it is the way God has acted toward us.

Does this mean that there is no such thing as right and wrong, and that people can behave any which way they want? Of course not. But that is completely beside the point. The point is that God does not hate sinners, and we had better not either.

©2007