Scripture/Sermon of the Day.  July 13, 2025

Luke 10:25-37

The Parable of the Good Samaritan

25 An expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he said, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 He said to him, “What is written in the law? What do you read there?” 27 He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind and your neighbor as yourself.” 28 And he said to him, “You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.”

29 But wanting to vindicate himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30 Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and took off, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. 32 So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan while traveling came upon him, and when he saw him he was moved with compassion. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, treating them with oil and wine. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, ‘Take care of him, and when I come back I will repay you whatever more you spend.’ 36 Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?” 37 He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

Reflection/Sermon:

I.      To find a modern analogy we can use to help us understand Jesus’ story — “The Good Samaritan” — we need someone who offends us — someone we don’t like — and yet, Jesus is telling us to be like this person. 

Can you think of someone you don’t like that God wants you to imitate?

Can you think of someone who offends you but is more like Jesus than you are?

II.       There’s more to The Good Samaritan than a nice man who did a nice thing to someone and at the end of the story Jesus tells us — “BE NICE like that Good Samaritan.” 

It’s not just a story about being nice to people. 

It’s more about being kind to people WHO ARE NOT LIKE US — at great personal cost and sacrifice TO US.  It’s a story where Jesus pretty much tells us to be a saint.  Something the apostle Paul said is impossible without God’s help.

III.    What’s a modern story like this parable? I asked God for help — and out of nowhere two words lit like neon billboards in my head:  Hacksaw Ridge, Hacksaw Ridge, Hacksaw Ridge.

V.      It’s a modern Good Samaritan story.  A true 20th century story about a soldier hated so much by his fellow-soldiers that many wanted him dead.

A movie was made about this man in 2016 that won an academy award.  Do you know his name?   The movie is Hacksaw Ridge and it was about DESMOND DOSS, the only person awarded the medal of honor without having to kill another person. 

His mother Bertha raised him a devout Seventh Day Adventist.  He was a NONVIOLENT, SABBATH-KEEPING VEGETARIAN. He was nonviolent even to animals!  When the U.S. was attacked at Pearl Harbor, he enlisted in the Army — but refused to carry a weapon because of his Seventh Day Adventist beliefs that were against violence.  To serve his country, he enlisted in the Army, refused to carry a weapon, and became a medic. 

VI.     His COMMANDING OFFICERS said, “Fine.  BUT you must carry a weapon into battle — to protect yourself and those whom you care for.  THAT’S AN ORDER.”  DOSS REFUSED.  He was threatened with court-martial.  His fellow soldiers harassed him.   Some vowed if he ever went into battle with them, they’d make sure Doss didn’t come back alive.  His commanding officers tried to have him discharged for mental illness.  Doss was punished and denied leave.  But Doss believed his duty was to obey God and serve his country — AND IT HAD TO BE IN THAT ORDER.  Finally — Doss was permitted to go into battle without a weapon.

VII.    The battle where he became famous was the Battle of Okinawa in an area known as THE MAEDA ESCARPMENT — soldiers called it HACKSAW RIDGE — a cliff 400 feet high.   To get to the top, you had to climb cargo nets.  After three days of heavy losses, all American soldiers were ordered to retreat.   But Doss refused to retreat because there were so many wounded that he would not leave behind.  He’d treat one soldier at a time and then tie the body with ropes and lower it.  Back and forth he went — it is estimated that he saved from 75 to 100 lives — and a number of those saved were Japanese soldiers.  And many of those he saved were ones from his own company who’d vowed they wouldn’t let him return alive.  He was ordered to not save the lives of any Japanese soldiers or civilians but  Doss said he couldn’t refuse aid to any life that was in need of it — HE HAD TO OBEY GOD FIRST. 

VIII.   Doss was almost killed many times — a sniper shot him, and he was hit by 17 shards of shrapnel from a grenade.  He caught tuberculosis.  Amazingly,  lived to be 87.

IX.     Jesus tells us in this reading today to be like the Good Samaritan.  He tells us to be like Desmond Doss — who loved and served his country — BUT PUT GOD FIRST.  Jesus tells us to be like him. 

BUT HOW CAN WE DO THIS? 

SO LISTEN TO MOSES, THE PROPHETS, THE ANGELS, JESUS HIMSELF — THEY ALL TELL US:

“With God, nothing will be impossible.”