But ... Moved with Compassion

"A Samaritan, who was on a journey, came to where the man was.  But when he saw him, he was moved with compassion."  Luke 10:33 (CEB)


You know the story, is my guess, just by the mention of his ethnic background.  The good Samaritan's story teaches us from our earliest days about doing good for others.  The measure with which this man in Jesus' story does good is astounding!  He deals with his "enemy" with kindness and generosity seemingly without a second thought or a cringe (even when he saw the final bill!).  I think the treasured lesson for maturing Jesus-followers is deeper still.

It's hard to move past the fact that there are two others, both of whom one would think know better this business of kindness and generosity like God doles out.  The priest and the Levite are both Jews answering a call by God on their lives and they are on the same road as their 'brother' who's been beaten to a pulp and left for dead.  Maybe it's a fair assumption that the priest was about priestly business and the Levite on his way to do what Levites do.  They both crossed over to the other side, presumably to keep from being made unclean, or contaminated, by the misfortune and brokenness of this man.  Whether it's fair or not to assume so of these two, it is indesputable that Jesus paints an entirely different picture of the Samaritan about his own business.

The CEB translation says he was on a journey.  He had some intention toward which he was travelling - a place, a task, a hope; whatever it was, he was on his way.  He came to the same place - a realization, a horror, a dilemma - just as the others before him did. But. BUT.  BUT, the Samaritan was moved with compassion.  He must act.  He can't leave this fella here alone, unattended, at death's door.  He set aside everything in and for that moment.  His journey, his business, his possible prejudice about his 'enemy,' maybe more.  He set it aside because of compassion.

Sympathetic concern for another's sufferings and misfortunes.  That's what pushed this Samaritan to act with such kindness and generosity.  Compassion made him set everything aside to pay attention to this beaten, broken, dying man.  I struggle to make eye contact with the man who stands with the cardboard sign at Highland and Sam Cooper as I drive by most mornings.  I may not be travelling by on the other side, but I keep my window rolled up and avert my eyes so as not to be distracted from my business or moved by my brother's misfortune.  And, there are a jillion other examples I could give of how folks like you and me work hard to keep from being moved by compassion.

My guess is that we're afraid of the cost of being moved by compassion.  Thank God, compassion was more important than convenience or comfort as Jesus set his face toward Jerusalem and began that last journey toward the cross. 

Lord Jesus, 'thank you!' sounds so empty in the face of the kindness and generosity that cost you everything ... on my behalf.  For your compassion I will be forever grateful; teach me to show that gratitude in the way I am moved by compassion for my brothers and sisters.  Teach me to be like the Samaritan who knew what was truly important and not count the cost of loving my neighbor.  I guess what I'm asking is that you would change my mind and my heart that I would love like you love me.  Let it be so ...