Practising the Way: Service (Being Available)

Oliver Towlson continues our series on Practicing the Way: Service; looking at Luke 10:25-37, the Good Samaritan. Oliver argues that this parable invites us to see ourselves both as the Samaritan and the wounded man. We are invited to join Jesus on his way to the cross and give ourselves away in self-emptying love, like the Samaritan. But we are also invited to see ourselves as utterly helpless, lost and dying, whose only hope is being rescued by Jesus. Oliver urges us to become people who, just like Jesus, are intentionally available and interruptible, gracious in conversation, able to navigate a morally complex world through reflection on God’s wisdom, who serve others (even people we don’t like) in costly demonstrations of unexpected love, and who are humble enough to receive help.