For 8th Sunday after Pentecost (Proper 10), Year C
For 3 Actors/Readers: Narrator, Lawyer and Jesus
Readers may hold scripts throughout.
Narrator: In today’s Gospel reading, Luke presents one of the instances someone examines Jesus with the intent to trick him, at least with words. In this case, it is a lawyer questioning Jesus.
The lawyer stands up to test Jesus, then, wanting to justify himself, he asks Jesus the famous question,
“And who is my neighbour?” Let us listen to the conversation recorded by Luke, between the lawyer and the teacher, Jesus.
Lawyer: Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?
Jesus: What is written in the law? What do you read there?
Lawyer: “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 neighbour as yourself.”
Jesus: You have given the right answer.
Do this, and you will live.
Lawyer: “And who is my neighbour?”
Jesus: 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.
Now by chance a priest was going down that road.
And when the priest saw the hurt man,
the priest passed by on the other side.
So likewise a Levite,
when he came to the place and saw him,
passed by on the other side.
But a Samaritan while travelling came near him.
And when he saw the hurt man, he was moved with pity.
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.
The next day the Samaritan took out two denarii coins,
gave them to the innkeeper, and said,
‘Take care of him. And when I come back,
I will repay you whatever more you spend.’
[pause: look at lawyer]
Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbour
to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?’
Lawyer: The one who showed him mercy.
Jesus: Go and do likewise.
Narrator: Here ends the reading.
May that question be burning in our ears, “Who is our neighbour?”
May God bless our hearing with understanding.
