Trinity 13 The Sunday of the Good Samaritan September 6, 2020

Trinity 13
Luke 10:23-37
September 6, 2020

“What Should I Be Doing?”

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

There’s been much talk lately amongst pastors about the very real temptation to burnout this particular year of 2020. The stress of so many difficult and frustrating decisions. The burden of not being able to do your job like visiting shut-ins, doing Bible studies, etc. I can honestly say In my 14 years as a pastor I don’t think I’ve ever felt this much burnout.

But the only reason I bring that up is because if I’m feeling some of that, I can be pretty confident that many of you are as well. I think it’s safe to say we’re all burned out of 2020 in at least some ways. We’re praying fervently for an end to this virus. For a vaccine. Anything, really, to get things back to some kind of normal. We’re ready for this cloud to be lifted—the dark, depressing cloud that covers every conversation we have and every activity we do—the COVID cloud. Add to that the violence and hatred and rioting. Add to that an election year. Lord, have mercy! Somebody come and save us!

So you see here how bad you need to hear the parable of the Good Samaritan today. For two reasons. One, you and I are burnt out, half-dead, lying in the road needing someone to make us better. And we have Someone. Jesus, our Good Samaritan, who can even make the year 2020 right and good.

And the second reason we need this parable? Because we need to be reminded of what we’re doing here in the first place. We need Jesus to clear our heads of everything else that’s going on and say, “Hey, remember why you’re here. Remember what you should be doing. You’re here to help others just like you who need a Good Samaritan. You’re here to give your life to others. And you can continue to do that even in 2020.”

So we need this Word of God today. You need this Word of God today. You need your Good Samaritan to come and make you well again. And you need to be lifted up and encouraged to go and be the Good Samaritan for others.

Now I’m putting this all under one question today, “What should I be doing?” This is one of those big picture questions. And it’s important to ask. What am I doing here? What’s my purpose? That way when a year like 2020 comes and screws everything up, you can still remain focused and grounded in Christ knowing exactly what you should be doing.

It comes from the lawyer’s question to Jesus in the Gospel reading. He asks a very big picture question to test Jesus. He asks, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” In other words, what does God want me to be doing? What’s my purpose here? What should I be doing with my life? And in the course of Jesus’ conversation with this lawyer we get two answers. First, we get an answer of what we should NOT be doing. And then we get an answer of what we SHOULD be doing.

(Repeated for memory sake) Make sense? What should I be doing with my life? First Jesus will tell you what NOT to be doing and then what you SHOULD be doing.

So what should you NOT be doing? The whole problem with the lawyer is given in v. 29. He was trying to justify himself. Which is to say, he was trying to make himself right. He was trying to fix everything himself. This is exactly what you should NOT be doing. You should not be thinking that you will justify yourself. That you will make everything right all by yourself. You will not and you cannot.

Stop thinking like the lawyer that you can make everything right. Stop thinking that we will solve 2020 when we get a vaccine. Or that we will solve everything when Trump or Biden is elected President. Guess what? Some other trouble will just come along. This world is broken. You are broken. Stop thinking that you know how to fix the world’s problems or even your own problems.

You are a sinner. Sinners don’t make everything right. Sinners need saving. Sinners need a Good Samaritan. And that’s why we believe in Jesus Christ. He, not us, makes everything right. He, not us, justifies us. He binds up your wounds. All those things you’ve done wrong. All those things in your life that have gone wrong. All those bleeding, infected wounds. He binds them up with His own blood which He shed on the cross for you.

He pours on oil and wine. That’s Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. Those healing medicines. And once He’s healed your wounds then He takes you to His Father’s house and pays your bill in full. Everything you owe to God for all your sins—Jesus pays the bill. And makes you a permanent resident in God’s house.

So that’s the first thing we learn of what we should be doing in September of 2020. We should NOT be trying to make everything right ourselves. We should NOT be thinking that we will solve all the year’s problems. We won’t. We can’t. We trust Jesus to make it all right. We trust His forgiveness. We trust His promises. We trust His Sacraments. We trust our Good Samaritan.

Second, then, what SHOULD we be doing? If we can’t make everything right but we have to trust Jesus to do that—then what should we do with our lives? Well, it’s simple. Our whole purpose is to help others. To be a Good Samaritan to others. That’s what our lives are all about. Help others.

Here’s a way you might remember this. What if this situation of the Good Samaritan happened today in El Paso, IL? What if someone was walking down the street, maybe walking to Church at Trinity Lutheran on Sunday morning, and they were robbed and beaten and left on the street? What would happen? The first person to come upon them would call who? They would call the El Paso Rescue Squad. Maybe the police first, of course, who would certainly come to help. But they would then turn and call the Rescue Squad. So that’s what I’m going to use this morning finally to help drive this home with us. Instead of the parable of the Good Samaritan, we’ll call it the parable of the Rescue Squad.

I’ve already told you that the first thing to realize is that we can’t make everything right by ourselves. We need Jesus the Rescue Man for that. When the El Paso Emergency Squad shows up to help somewhere, they know that they can’t make everything right. That’s out of their hands. That’s in God’s hands. But they are there to help.

And that’s exactly what you’re here for. You’re here to help. In whatever way, shape, and form—you’re here to help. You’re here in this world to be a rescue squad. To help whoever needs your help. You can’t solve the world’s problems or do everything right or make everything right. We have Jesus for that. But you can help. And that’s exactly what God wants you to do. That’s what He puts you here for. To help others.

Do you see how this would be very helpful to remember right now? We’re burnt out right in September 2020 because we want everything to be right and normal again the way we want it. But we’re just gonna have to trust Jesus for that. There will always be something wrong and amiss in this world. And Jesus will always be our Good Samaritan making things right.

But in the meantime, no matter what’s going on, our job doesn’t change. We’re here to help. We’re here to be a rescue squad who’s called in by God to help anyone in need. Jesus ends the parable by telling the lawyer, “You go, and do likewise.” You are to go into the world and help others. The lawyer was only thinking of himself, right? That’s our problem too. We sinners are overly concerned with ourselves. With what we want. With what we think we need. But we’re going to let Jesus take care of us. And the less we can think of ourselves and the more we can think of others and helping others—then the happier we will be.

Why does everyone in El Paso love the rescue squad? Because those folks are here to help. That’s your job too, Christians. Be there to help and make things parents. Moms and Dads, be there to help your children. Not to yell at them, complain about them, and exasperate them. Be there to help them. To pray for them, encourage them, listen to them, read them God’s Word, forgive them. Be there to help. Be their rescue squad in this evil world.

Church family, be there to help one another. Not to judge each other. Not to complain about each other. Not to compare who’s better than who. Be there to help one another. To send a word of encouragement. To pray for one another. To forgive one another. To offer food or money when it’s needed. Our church family should be a rescue squad to one another.

Citizens of the United States, be there to help our country. Not to complain, complain, complain about all our leaders. Not to call names and vilify others. Not to blame everything on political parties. Be a citizen of this country who is there to help. Pray for our leaders. Listen to people who are hurting. Talk to the police and see where you can help them and encourage them. Be a rescue squad for our country and not a wrecking crew.

What should I be doing? Be a neighbor. Be a rescue squad. Help those in need. That goes for everyone in here today. At the end of Church today we’re going to give out books specifically to all the kids in our congregation who are here today about what they should be doing. All of you kids here today—God has called you also to help others. That’s your job.

God uses you to help your parents, to help your brothers and sisters, to help your Grandparents, to help your friends, your teachers. All kinds of people. To be a rescue squad, a Good Samaritan, a neighbor. To be Jesus to others.

What an awesome thought in September 2020 when so much is wrong—this we know is right. Jesus makes us right. And we are here to help others.

God help us to help others.

In Jesus’ name. Amen.