Luke 10: 25-37

25On 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?"

27He 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."
29But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"

30In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. 35The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’
36"Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?"

37The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him."
Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise."

Sweet Jesus-
O how I love you! You are the best teacher! Thank you for reminding me who my neighbor is! Forgive me for:

• All the times I’ve injured someone and walked away like the robber.
• All the times I’ve chosen to pass by and ignore those in need because I’m so self-righteous like the religious leaders.
• All the times I’ve tried to justify my lack of love and stood around and talked about it like the expert in the law.
• All the times I’ve seen a need and tried to capitalize on it like the innkeeper.
  

Help me Father, to be like the Samaritan who was the least among all of these, yet the greatest. Please change my heart of stone to a heart of flesh. Show me an injured soul today – someone who is different from me in race, creed, or social background and I will stop and help even if it’s inconvenient. This will not be easy or natural, so please just give me more of the Holy Spirit through whom I pray. Amen.

Look for someone today who is different from you in race, creed or social background and stop whatever you are doing to help them even if it is inconvenient.