SECTION 1 = 5 mins

3 MINs >> REFLECTION

CATEGORIZE

By asking Jesus ‘Who is my neighbor?’ the lawyer presumably wants to put people into categories—neighbor or not a neighbor. If some people are neighbors and others are not neighbors, he can be selective with his love. As a result, he could pass by someone in need without feeling guilty or breaking God’s covenant. Categories aren’t unusual. The Old Testament is full of them: naming animals in Genesis, the twelve tribes of Israel, Jews and Gentiles, believers and nonbelievers, etc. Jesus apparently wants to explore the lawyer’s motives for categorizing people, not that he is attempting to put people into a category.

Labels or names can be used to categorize people in positive or negative ways. For example, someone may be described as smart, funny, kind, loyal, respectful, confident, tall, short, big, small, rude, weak, strong, young, old, successful, or unsuccessful. The characteristics associated with these labels may be physical, performative, moralistic, etc. Someone who is strong may be physically strong or mentally/emotionally strong (gritty, courageous) or both. A label represents something about the person, but it doesn’t represent the whole person. Sometimes we place people into categories such as good or bad, friend or enemy, right or wrong.

Applying an all-or-nothing designation such as neighbor or not a neighbor, might indicate a goal to include an idealized group and exclude a marginalized group. After all, we’re partial to some people: family, friends, etc. Rejecting someone categorically by assigning a label (e.g., not a neighbor; not family; not a friend) relieves us from having to feel compassion for them, or show mercy to them, or love them. We can exclude them for our convenience. We can even blame them for not adding value to our own lives in the ways that we prefer. Withholding love for someone who is labeled like this conflicts with what Jesus is teaching in the story of the Samaritan.

Powerful forces such as hate and fear are behind many of the categories and labels we ascribe to others. Hate and fear create tension and stress, which lead to rigid boundaries and categories. Love and faith lead us to create porous boundaries and fewer categories with regard to love. By loving God and neighbor in the way Jesus is describing, tensions don’t build and boundaries aren’t necessary for protection. Compassion and mercy is unbounded.

2 mins >> Discussion Questions + Prompts

Discuss the reflection reading above.

SECTION 2 = 10 mins

3 MINS >> read luke 10:25-37 (NRSV shown below)

Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. 

“Teacher,” he said, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 

He said to him,

“What is written in the law? What do you read there?” 

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.” 

And he said to him,

“You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.”

But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus,

“And who is my neighbor?” 

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. Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he 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 traveling came near him; and when he saw him, 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 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.’ 

Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?”

He said,

“The one who showed him mercy.”

Jesus said to him,

“Go and do likewise.”

7 mins >> Discussion Questions + Prompts

• Discuss the decision-making process for the priest & Levite.

• Discuss the decision-making process for the Samaritan.

• Was it a decision, an instinct, an impulse, an emotion, or what?

SECTION 3 = 11 mins

7 mins >> Watch THINKING FAST & SLOW

4 mins >> Discussion Questions + Prompts

• Share your thoughts about the video.

• How does the video help you understand decision-making?

SECTION 4 = 11 mins

6 MINS >> Read DECISIOn LAb’s Decision-making Process

5 MINS >> Discussion Questions & Prompts

• Share your thoughts about what you read.

• Discuss how it relates to Luke 10:25-37.

SECTION 5 = 15 mins

10 mins >> FLORILEGIUM

Take a minute or two to read Luke 6:39-42 NRSV. Then, complete Steps 1-3 which are listed below.

He also told them a parable: “Can a blind person guide a blind person? Will not both fall into a pit? A disciple is not above the teacher, but every disciple who is fully qualified will be like the teacher. Why do you see the speck in your neighbor’s eye but do not notice the log in your own eye? Or how can you say to your neighbor, ‘Friend, let me take out the speck in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor’s eye.”

1. VERBATIM >> 3 mins >> Choose one key sentence to copy verbatim onto a piece of paper or in a journal.

2. HIGHLIGHT >> 1 min >> Identify a key word or phrase from that sentence.

3. COMMENTARY >> 4 mins >> In your own words, write a few sentences about the reading in general or your selection in particular.

5 mins >> Discussion Questions + Prompts

• What is the word or phrase that stood out to you?

• Share what you wrote in your commentary.

SECTION 6 = 8 mins

7 mins >> Discussion Questions & Prompts

• Who or what influences you when you make decisions about being faithful?

• Take a moment to write down your answer.

1 min >> SILENT Prayer

• Jesus, Help us to move in your direction today. Amen.