A Poem a Sunday

July 10, 2016

Pentecost 8 C

St. Luke 10:25-37 - New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Commentary:  A great preaching opportunity on a classic story.  Might we take another angle on the text?  Rather than a morality tale, take the position of the victim.  This is a radical reversal often portrayed in the Gospel of Luke.  The Kingdom comes in the most unexpected places with the most unexpected people.  The poem, Robbed, takes the point of view of the victim.  You are invited to take another look into the text.

The Parable of the Good Samaritan

25 Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus.[a] “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 justify 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 went away, 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 near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. 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,[b] 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.”

Footnotes:

Luke 10:25 Gk him

Luke 10:35 The denarius was the usual day’s wage for a laborer

A Poem a Sunday

July 10, 2016

Pentecost 8 C

Robbed!

"A twisted fisted hand,

A bleeding furrowed brow.

My eyes saw skies—dark, threatening.

Cries arise through the tree boughs.

Tossed in a ditch like garbage

From a recent traveler’s meal.

I had no breath to shout again.

My mind began to reel.

In a mindless stupor

My inner eye could see

Images of people

Who began to pass by me.

Out of the foggy coma

A dream-like man rode by.

A Priest with prayer shawl muttered:

'Unclean!  Unclean!' he sighed.

My God!  It seemed like days

Until my inner eye could see

A Levi dressed in Sabbath garb

Hovering over me.

His look of horror struck

Within my mind and heart.

The Sabbath Law must be obeyed

And so he did depart.

A twisted opened hand,

A face I dare not trust,

Thrusted hands now lifted me

And we were in a rush.

The sky was dark and gray.

Hands gently salved my wounds.

I found myself awake from sleep

Resting in a room.

A twisted opened hand

Passed silver across the door.

Speaking softly, left unknown:

'Tell me if you need more.'

I awakened from deep pain

And thought it was a dream.

Could comrades from my race

Have left me in such a scene?

Samaritan –a face of hate

--trash –a dirty dog!

Salved my wounds and brought me here?

My God, I’m in a fog!

A gentle voice, the innkeeper’s wife, sighed,"

'No, God’s Word is very near.

In those we hate and despise

God’s promise is made clear.'

Kenn Storck

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