The Heart of Compassion: Embracing God’s Love and Unity
Today’s readings ask us to contemplate our Christian nature and relationships with each other, who is my neighbor, and my role in building God’s family. Unity is not a choice in our Orthodox living, or just a possibility, it is a divine requirement; if we are to be everything God wants us to be as a Church, we need to know His ways …
The word “therefore” in verse one. This word draws our attention back to the previous chapters, where Paul laid a foundation for biblical Christian doctrine. As he begins his remarks in chapter 4, Paul says there is no divorcing Christian doctrine from Christian duty! He is saying, “You know the truth, now walk in it!” and also in the book of James, “Where there is genuine faith, there will be genuine works to back it up!”
Notice the truths that are contained in this passage. The source of our unity lies in what we share in common and in the fact that we have each been specially equipped by the Lord to be a blessing and a help to the Church! THE SECRET OF CHRISTIAN UNITY originates from the Holy Spirit and through the cross and resurrection, but the difficult part is living out the demands of that unity and calling …
So, we, the Orthodox Catholics, are about the business of practicing, protecting, and strengthening our unity? Notice: The apostle Paul does not tell us to “make” unity! Unity already exists in God’s Church; our duty is to manifest and maintain it! Lowliness means “Humility, an accurate understanding of our moral smallness.” …………. it means you realize your insignificance while you see the worth of others, Phil. 2:4! It’s not “How great I am!” It’s “I am what I am by the grace of God!” …. it’s about us getting off our pedestal and realizing that were it not for the grace of God, where would we be?
Having a “lowly” spirit reminds me of my sinful nature. Therefore, I will not look down on others who may have fallen! Meekness – This word means “gentleness; power under control.” It refers to having the power to react against others but refusing to for the sake of Christ! Sometimes, it means keeping your mouth shut instead of setting someone else straight. Sometimes, it means reacting with honey when you want to react with vinegar! “Boy, you catch more bees with honey than you do vinegar?” It means being sweet toward others! And turning the other cheek for the sake of peace. Longsuffering – This word means “patience, endurance.”
It means “to be long-tempered.” It refers to having a long fuse! Do you have a short fuse? I know I did. Count to 10 was my mother’s favorite mother? If we are going to promote unity in the Church, then we must learn to be long-tempered. When our lives, desires, will, interests etc., etc., stop being about God’s unity and love, we start to focus on self and worldly things…. headed for darkness and trouble! Missing one week of service can lead to 2 and then 3, and then I am making a phone to you…
We may come from different places as believers, but we stand on common ground! We Share Common Ground, We Share Common Grace – It is important for all of us, especially children, to be aware of the gift bestowed on us, and we all have at least one. The seven spiritual gifts of the Holy Spirit are listed as early (as in the writings) of Isaiah 11:2: Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude, Knowledge, Piety, and Fear of the Lord. One of the most important reasons we share the gospel with every generation is to keep the right relationship (with our God). The simplest among us are not immune to sinful natures… sin starts early, and our children need to learn what it truly means to love thy neighbor as thy self; it is not normal to turn the other cheek.
In today’s Gospel, a scribe asks Jesus a very basic religious question: “What should I do to inherit eternal life?” In answer to the question, Jesus directs the scribe’s attention to the Sacred Scriptures. The Scriptural answer is, “Love God and express it by loving your neighbor.” However, to the scribe, the word “neighbor” means another scribe or Pharisee, but never a Samaritan or a Gentile. Hence, the scribe insists on clarification of the word “neighbor.” So, Jesus tells him the parable of the Good Samaritan. The parable indicates that a “neighbor” is anyone who needs help. Thus, the correct approach is not to ask, “Who is my neighbor?” but to ask, “Am I a good neighbor to others?” Jesus, the Heavenly Good Samaritan, gives us a final commandment during the Last Supper, “Love one another as I have loved you,” because the invisible God dwells in every human being. Deuteronomy 6 is concerned with the individual’s obedience to God. But it is also concerned with families.
Though our passage is all about keeping God’s commands, it constantly references our children and obedience. Deut. v. 2—“that you may fear the LORD your God, you and your son and your son’s son.” v. 7—“You shall teach them diligently to your children . . ./ let me tell you about Little Tim, and the teaching of your children, to be Good Samaritan’s, Tim was in the garden filling a hole when his neighbor peered over the fence. Interested in what the youngster was doing, he politely asked, “What are you up to there, Tim?” “My goldfish died,” replied Tim tearfully, without looking up, “and I’ve just buried him.” The neighbor said, “That’s an awfully big hole for a goldfish, isn’t it, Tim?” Tim patted down the last heap of earth and replied, “That’s because he is still inside your stupid cat.” Tim did not know Leviticus as the scribe did. Leviticus 19:18 is a well-known commandment in the Bible that states, “You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against any of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD.”
Everything else falls into proper perspective and balance when we love God with all we are. To love God is to follow His ways and to embrace His character. Love for God, in turn, enables us to love others truly selflessly. Who are our enemies? Can you think of one today? “Enemies” include the people we hate and those who hate us. When Jesus told the story of a Samaritan helping a Jew, everyone was probably shocked. A Samaritan outcast helping a Jew? Impossible! The term “Good Samaritan” would have sounded like a bad joke—a contradiction. The Jews and the Samaritans during the time of Jesus hated each other. The parable was an invitation for Jews to love Samaritans and Samaritans to love Jews. And Jesus will demand much of us until we learn his way? It invites people to see each other as that flowing water of God’s temple.
What made this Samaritan so special was not the color of his skin but the compassion in his heart. No law would or could make the priest or the Levite stop, but love could make the Samaritan stop. Love makes all of us do what we never think we would do…that is the beauty of sacrifice and the resurrection, it is all love.
Jesus presents three philosophies of life concerning our relationship with our neighbor: 1) the philosophy of the thieves who robbed the Samaritan: “What is yours is mine; I will take it by force. 2) the philosophy of the Jewish priest and the Levite: “What is mine is mine; I won’t part with it.” 3) the philosophy of the Samaritan: “What is mine is yours as well. I shall share it with you. Who would we have been that day — the thief, the priest, the Levite, or the Good Samaritan?” Every time we see a person in need, we immediately become a neighbor and a minister with a ministry. Two denarii was a lot of money—enough, in fact, to pay for more than three weeks’ board and lodging. The Samaritan also assured the innkeeper of further payment for any additional medical requirements of the wounded man. When we deal with Jesus, all our ailments can be healed.“ The Good Samaritan symbolizes Jesus himself as Savior of the world.
Mark Twain once wrote, “Kindness is a language that the deaf can hear, and the blind can read.” Today, remember that the road from Jerusalem to Jericho passes right through our home, parish, school, and workplace. Jericho Road is any place where people are robbed of their dignity, material goods, or value as human beings. It is any place where there is suffering and oppression. Jericho Road may be our own home, where we care for a mother or father, husband or wife, or even our own children. We may find our spouse, children, or parents lying “wounded” by bitter words, scathing criticism, or other, more blatant forms of verbal, emotional, or physical abuse. Hence, Jesus invites us to have hearts of love. God wants more than anything for us to show our love to others, in our own home and school, in the workplace, and in the neighborhood, as the Good Samaritan did.
Jesus is inviting us to have hearts of mercy for those being hurt or mistreated on any of the “Jericho Roads” of life. Closing story: When Einstein fled Nazi Germany, he came to America and bought a two-storied house within walking distance of Princeton University. There, he entertained some of the most distinguished people of his day and discussed far-ranging issues, from physics to human rights. But Einstein had another frequent visitor.
In the world’s eyes, she was not an important person like his other guests. Emmy, a ten-year old neighbor, had heard that a very kind man who knew all about mathematics had moved into her neighborhood. Since she was having trouble with her fourth-grade mathematics, she decided to visit the man down the block to see if he would help with her problems. Einstein was very willing and explained everything to her so that she could understand it. He also told her she was welcome to come anytime she needed help. A few weeks later, one of the neighbors told Emmy’s mother that Emmy was seen entering the house of the world-famous physicist. Horrified, she told her daughter that Einstein was a very important man whose time was very valuable and shouldn’t be bothered with the problems of a little schoolgirl. She then rushed over to Einstein’s house, and when Einstein answered the door, she started trying to apologize for her daughter’s intrusion — for being such a bother. But Einstein cut her off. He said, “She has not been bothering me! When a child finds such joy in learning, it is my joy to help her learn! Please don’t stop Emmy from coming to me with her school problems. She is welcome in this house anytime.” -And that’s how it is with God! He is our neighbor and wants us to come to His house anytime!
SUMMARY:
The essay emphasizes the importance of unity, love, and compassion in Christian life, particularly within the Orthodox Catholic Church, and uses biblical teachings and stories to illustrate these values.
- Unity as a Divine Requirement: Unity in the Orthodox Catholic Church is not optional but a divine requirement, essential for fulfilling God’s purpose as a Church.
- Christian Doctrine and Duty: Christian doctrine cannot be separated from Christian duty; genuine faith must be accompanied by genuine works.
- Practicing Humility and Meekness: Humility involves recognizing our own insignificance and valuing others, while meekness means exercising gentleness and self-control for the sake of Christ.
- Patience and Endurance: Longsuffering, or patience and endurance, is essential for promoting unity in the Church, requiring believers to be long-tempered and focused on God’s love.
- Teaching Children About Love and Sin: It is crucial to teach children about the spiritual gifts and the importance of loving their neighbors to foster a right relationship with God and avoid sin.
- The Parable of the Good Samaritan: The parable of the Good Samaritan illustrates that a neighbor is anyone in need, and emphasizes the importance of being compassionate and selfless, following Jesus’ teachings.
