Chapel: The Good Samaritan
Who is a first responder? Someone who is the first to arrive at a scene of an emergency. What defines a good neighbor? Being there for someone and standing with them.
Luke 10:25-29
25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”
27 He answered, “‘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, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”
29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
Who is my neighbor? Who am I supposed to love? How am I supposed to figure this out? We look to Jesus and His teaching to help us understand these questions.
In the parable of the Good Samaritan, the two people didn’t know each other and were traditionally enemies. If we emulate what the Samaritan did in the story, we learn how to be a good neighbor. He stopped and evaluated the situation and the injuries that the stranger had sustained. Just as a first responder would, he went to answer the problem instead of walking away.
The Samaritan was prepared. He had the proper supplies to take care of the injured man and took him to a place he could rest. He paid for it and followed through with a promise to return. He provided help to someone who needed it, showing mercy when others had not.
We can be prepared by being full of God, so when we meet our situations throughout the day we are ready to help. It doesn’t have to be an emergency! We can help our parents around the house and support our siblings and friends. We can decide to be a first responder and be ready when help is needed.
With the love of God, you can be brave!
