The Enemy’s Kindness
Rev. Tiare L. Mathison, Pastor & Soul-Tender
Ps. 82; Col. 1:1-14; Luke 10:25-37
“But wanting to justify himself, the lawyer asked, ‘who is my neighbor?’”
Jesus replies, “A woman goes to an Abortion Clinic…” (Pause)
Her name is Pam. She needs an abortion. Earlier, Pam had spoken with a good friend who was very casual and nonchalant about abortions. “Do whatever you think is best, Pam.”
She makes the appointment.
She drives her car to the clinic, parks, gets out and is immediately accosted by men, screaming at the top of their lungs, ‘baby killer, baby killer. God is going to send u to hell. You’re going to burn in hell.’ She is shaken.
As she gets to the door of the clinic, a woman opens it with a warm smile and says, “Hi, my name is June. I’m a volunteer here. I will accompany you through the procedure.”
June is a faithful Christian, against abortions except for rare situations. Yet, Her compassion takes her to the clinic every week. She recognizes herself among these women - it could have been me, she thinks. I don’t have all the answers…
(Pause) who is Pam’s neighbor?
My colleague and friend Jami says, “…the gospel of Jesus Christ clobbers us…”
(Pause)
In our congregation we have women who have had abortions or may need one in the future. We have doctors who know the need for abortions for the health of their patients. We have people who believe abortion should be outlawed. We have women who use birth control. We have gay couples, we have inter-racial marriages. Just within our 60 or so people, we have it all. All that is threatened by the direction of the Supreme Court and the right-wing conservatives, done in the name of God. And the gospel of Jesus Christ clobbers us.
For it is The Enemy’s Kindness that is celebrated in this story.
First the lawyer questions the authority of this Galilean - He’s not even trained in the rabbinic schools! Then there is the long-standing historical hatred represented, Samaritan and Jew. Quote: “They claim to worship the same God of the ancient Hebrews, but they each have their own Scripture, their own temples and their own religious practices,” Biblical Scholar, Matthew Skinner says.
In a shocking scene that electrifies the crowd, the 2 who should help don’t : what’s this about? Jewish ethics require helping one in distress. How could they simply walk by? Purification codes are set aside when someone is in trouble. Even the lawyer at the very end is not able to name his enemy as neighbor - he cannot say the word, Samaritan! He says, “The one who showed mercy.”
His goal in this encounter is to set a limit for himself, I only have to love certain people, my kind of people, the ones who think, act and agree with my religion and my politics.
Oh not so quick. Jesus places the focus ‘neighbor’ on the one who has been beaten. ‘Who is his neighbor?’ The Enemy. Go and do likewise.
There is a demand for a practice of love, to cross the boundary of animosity. It forces us to sit in the ditch, to reflect on these questions: Is there anyone from whom I would rather die than receive care? Is there anyone for whom I would not offer care?
And a most painful question:
Is there a group that would let me die in the ditch rather than offer care? (Pause)
This is the experience of life today. This is the level of threat, existential threat, that folk live. Older Asian Americans afraid to go out of their homes. People of color, especially young black men, sure when they get pulled over by the police, it is all over. Women who need medical and health services, including access to abortion, for a wide variety of reasons. Gay Couples afraid their deep and abiding love for each other, recognized in their marriage vows, will be stripped away. Not everyone will be a Good Samaritan, let’s face it.
Some will escape with busyness. Some with a capacity to not see the need. Some won’t be bothered by such a nuisance. Some will sink into despair, sure there is nothing they can do. Some will let their self-righteous faith keep them from the truth of the gospel:
It is The Enemy’s Kindness that Jesus holds up as the excellent example. ‘Go and do likewise.’
The domesticated version of this story says, ah just be nice to your neighbors. No big deal. But you and I know, Jesus’ stories are never that easy. Never! So let’s sit in the ditch awhile longer and figure out how we are going to live. (Pause)
Compassion is more important than being right.
Honor and respect the woman’s agency, Whether you understand or agree.
Recognize the vulnerability of the other person. As your own
This is what I believe the gospel of Jesus Christ calls us to understand in relationship with one another. The starting point is not our attitudes or our belief systems of right & wrong, rather it is this: we who have received mercy, must go out and act with mercy. The cross of Christ is the power of redemption, lifted up to this new day.
Eternal life has already come to the enemy, the Samaritan, he acts it out! He cleanses wounds, he lifts up the beaten one, he offers shelter, food, care, for as long as it is necessary. He sets aside his own plans, his own belief systems, his own practices, to help the one in need. He knows he is breaking the code - a Samaritan never helps a Jew and a Jew never helps a Samaritan - but that doesn’t stop him. Once you have received mercy, once you know its beauty and grace, you are compelled to share it. For it withers otherwise.
The Enemy’s Kindness
It is a dangerous road from the high country of Jerusalem down to Jericho. The territory is filled up with scammers, folk who demand your allegiance, expect your loyalty, define truth for you. It is easy to get lost out here. If you don’t obey, they’ll beat you up and leave you for dead. They really don’t care about your life. They care about maintaining power. It is their way or the highway.
Our obedience is not to a way of thinking, rather it is faith in the person of Jesus Christ, Lord and Savior. Born to love us and bring us eternal life, He who gives up His very life on behalf of the world. Thereby He opens a pathway of abundant life, filled with the possibility of renewal, joy, hope, peace. And once we get all this, He says, ‘okay, now it’s time to take a stand for justice. You might have to give up your life, or at least be inconvenienced for a time. This too is part of My gospel.’
Justice demands we pay attention to the most vulnerable. It demands we be quiet, those of us with power and privilege, so we can listen carefully to the others, whose voices have been long silenced. It requires humility, a certain softness of attitude, that suggests we don’t have all the answers. We simply know The One who will embrace us and our questions. Our stand for justice is rooted in the mercy of Jesus Christ, given as our great gift.
The Enemy’s Kindness is now ours. Go and do likewise. Amen