Try On Kindness!

                                            Part Two 

Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he said, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" 

The lawyer knew!  He knew that Jesus was not talking about any law, or ritual, or cultural norm here.  His Jewish laws didn’t cover this kind of love.  Nor, did it cover, his limited imagination of, what Jesus meant by “neighbor.”

So let me get to the tip of the nail Jesus was hammering in here.  The Law, nor the Commandment to love God and neighbor, has nothing to do with “like.” 

Lets face it!  God certainly didn’t like very much about his human creation. At least after the beginning of creation that is.  This truth is pretty clear thought out the Old Testament.  But he never stopped loving them!   He has never stopped forgiving them! He never stopped caring for them.  Or showing them mercy!

So here is my simple take on this overly used word “love.”  And the idea that we are asked to love our neighbor “as we love ourselves.”  It has to do with the very simple fact that our job is not to "like" others.

Or judge others! 

   Or decide their worth! 

      Or what they believe!  

          Or how they live their lives!  

Our job is to do what is right and good, to others, according to God’s way of loving.

But there is more to this simple child-like request!  We are asked to treat them with love, despite our feelings about them.  Or who, or what, the other person is, or does, that is “different!”

I am willing to go as far as to say that, the love, Jesus talks about throughout the Gospels, is not a feeling at all.  But, perhaps a way of acting, or speaking, or thinking!  A way of approaching others!  Who, by the way, are all different in many and diverse ways.

Just for a moment I invite you to places yourself in this parable. 

That is what my mind is attempting to do right now. I am remembering a  certain Sunday afternoon.  I was in college at Oklahoma State University.  I was having lunch with a friend.  Her name was Merna.  We were sitting in the cafeteria, in our residence hall, at lunch time.  Being a Sunday it was pretty empty.  Merna got up to refill her drink, when a girl came up and asked if she might join me at the table.  Her name was Cherrie.  Her tray was piled high with food; and as she sitting down she was commenting on how hungry she was.  Just about that time Merna came back and sat down. That is when I noticed that Cherrie became noticeably upset.  She began to shake.  Literally tremble!  Then she got up quickly!  Mumbling something about not being hungry!  Left her tray on the table!  And was gone!

Cherrie was a very tall thin beautiful young woman from the deep South.  

Merna was an African American.  Also from the South!

"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 neighbor as yourself.”

Jesus’ little parable, about the arrogant lawyer and the Samaritan, is an exceptional example of what Jesus meant when he asks us to love as he does.  

It is meant of help us to realize that his definition of love covers a far greater depth of meaning; than that soft fluffy feeling portrayed in romance novels, in the movies or on television.  

Jesus’ love takes-care of others!  Whether you “like them or not!  Or, approve of them or not! 

It has nothing what-so-ever to do with whether someone “deserves” love or not.  Whatever that means!

Jesus’ love is not Conditional!   It is non-exclusive!  It does not separate by race, or color of skin, or religious belief, or sexual preference.    Jesus' love sets not limits!

Just love God and love neighbor!!  “As” I do!  “As” is a small word with a huge meaning!

This, all too overly-sentimentally used, parable breaks through all human limits that we would set-up.  And simply tells us to do what is right!  Then asks us to reconsider what we think!  What we think we know!

I will end this lengthy blog with one word:  Kindness!

I would like it if kindness replaced, the over used term love!

Sorry Jesus!

But we can understand that term better!   It doesn't get all mixed up with emotions and feelings like the term love does.

Just Treat others as we want to be treated!  That us the point of Jesus' parable!

             Amen!  Let t be so among all of God's Children!

 25 Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he said, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" 26 He said to him, "What is written in the law? What do you read there?" 27 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 neighbor as yourself." 28 And he said to him, "You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live." 29 But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" 30 Jesus replied, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, "Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.' 36 Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?" 37 He said, "The one who showed him mercy." Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise.”(Luke 10)