The Good Samaritan

Whose eyes and ears are blessed? Not only of the disciples themselves, but of others: those who would hear them, who are sent by Jesus. For what you see and hear in your pastor is a representative of Christ, as if Christ our dear Lord had dealt with us himself. There is no difference between the medicine the Good Samaritan applied to the poor wayfarer himself, and the medicine applied by the innkeeper whom the Samaritan commissioned in his stead. And how the wayfarer needed that care; how you need it. For your flesh, the devil, and the world are of no help to you. Especially in these pandemic days, when you may conveniently think you have done well simply for staying safe! Meanwhile your neighbor is the person who sits beside you in the pew; your neighbor is the policeman down the street who is being condemned as a racist! You have sinned, while you thought you were doing well because you were following the government's guidelines. But your Good Samaritan has had compassion on you, and has applied his healing medicine to you through the forgiveness of your sins. And if Christ himself were here in person, the medicine he would give is no different; it is the same as what you do receive in the means of grace here. See, your healing is complete because of his compassion. So now you, go and love your neighbor: do likewise. Sermon for Trinity XIII.