It is alarming how far we have strayed from the example of the Good Samaritan. Our Lord Jesus Christ gave a parable, "5 One day an expert in religious law stood up to test Jesus by asking him this question: “Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?”
26 Jesus replied, “What does the law of Moses say? How do you read it?”
27 The man answered, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
28 “Right!” Jesus told him. “Do this and you will live!”
29 The man wanted to justify his actions, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
0 Jesus replied with a story: “A Jewish man was traveling from Jerusalem down to Jericho, and he was attacked by bandits. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him up, and left him half dead beside the road.
31 “By chance a priest came along. But when he saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other side of the road and passed him by. 32 A Temple assistant walked over and looked at him lying there, but he also passed by on the other side.
33 “Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him. 34 Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. 35 The next day he handed the innkeeper two silver coins, telling him, ‘Take care of this man. If his bill runs higher than this, I’ll pay you the next time I’m here.’
36 “Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?” Jesus asked.
37 The man replied, “The one who showed him mercy.”
Then Jesus said, “Yes, now go and do the same.” (Luke 120:25-37).
In this parable Jesus mentions a priest, a Levite (highest priesthood), and Samaritan, whom Jews called devil, Samaritan devil. The priest did not help the robbed and beaten man on side of the road, nor did the Levite, it was Gentile Samaritan who took the man on his donkey, took him to inn, paid for his stay and expenses. How often do we see the same in our day and age? I have witnessed a pastor pass a beaten and robbed brother in Christ, a priest act indifferent, and it was Samaritans who took care of loved one I know. The indifference in church is staggering. There are people without homes, on the side of the road, in tents with children, and beyond who are brothers and sisters in Christ, but instead of offering an inn or their own home to be a hospital to these people they say, "I will pray for you." Pish posh! Praying is not enough! For the Apostle James says, "What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? 15 Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, 16 and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do? So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless." (James 2:14-17). We cannot simply promise to make supplication, we are suppose to take our own brothers and sisters in Christ into our homes when they lie on road of brokenness! We are to act the Good Samaritan! Not like the indifferent priest and Levite!
Our Lord and God Jesus Christ makes it very clear that we are to take care of each other, for when we do take care of a brother and sister in Christ, we take care of Christ, "For I was hungry and you gave me food to eat, I was thirsty and you have me a drink, was a stranger and you too me in. I was naked and you clothed me, I was alone in prison and you visited me. For when you did this to least of my brothers and sisters [Christians] you did it unto me." (Matthew 25:31-46). The Knights Hospitallers, a military monastic order during The Medieval Crusades, took this so seriously, that they treated everyone in their hospitals as if they were Christ Himself! In fact, Saladin recounts that he had never experienced such hospitality, honor, and care as in Hospital of the Knights Hospitallers. In fact, hospital comes from the name of the order, Hospitaller. and their aim was to be hospitable, as in hospitality!
As Christians we are suppose to be hospitable. We are told by author of Hebrews, "Don't forget to show hospitality to strangers, by doing so, some have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it!" (Hebrews 13:2). Indeed, this happened to Abraham when he hosted the Holy Trinity and Angels (Genesis 18). To be an elder of a church, it is stipulated that he must be hospitable (1 Timothy 3:2), but in truth the Apostles Paul and Peter state that all Christians must be hospitable, "Share with the saints in need. Practice hospitality." (Romans 12:13) and "show hospitality to one another without complaining." (1 Peter 4:9). Hospitality is not some optional part of Christian life, it is a directive from Christ and His Apostles! We are suppose to see the needs of our brothers and sisters in Christ, and help them when they are in distress, and to help strangers too because they could be angels or Jesus in disguise!
It is time for us to reclaim the practice of hospitality, and start acting like Fidel Familia, a Family of Faith! There are many brothers and sisters in Christ and strangers suffering, who we could step in and aid, if we would stop stepping around them like the priest and Levite! Praying is good and all, but we can do practical things to help those in need. Let us not shirk showing hospitality, and instead open our table, our homes, and our hearts to those pilfered by this world. Surely we should execute discernment (1 Corinthians 12:8, and 1 John 4:1) and if you feel something off about a person [discern they have evil spirit or are up to hurting you and others] then reconsider, for God does not intend us to be foolish sheep, but warned us "I am sending you out like sheep among wolves, be wise (shrewd) as serpents (seraphim) and gentle as doves." (Matthew 10:16). There are wolves out there, and you must execute discernment, but that is why at very least start with those in body of Christ who are in need, and with faith and discernment, reach out to strangers. Amen.
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