Binding the Wounds of the Broken

Week One

King’s “On Being a Good Neighbor” essay PDF
Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his final speech on April 3, 1968, which included a part of The Parable of the Good Samaritan

The Parable of the Good Samaritan Luke 10:25-37
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 travelling 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.”

By Rev. Claire Matheny, Associate Pastor of St. Paul’s UMC in Kensington

Jesus plunked me on the Jericho Road. As I was reading this essay two days after Christmas, a stranger called in need of rent assistance. Here was a dire life situation. If he did not receive help by the end of the day, his family would be out on the street. The caller was not a member of our community. What if he was “a faker,” as King describes, someone out to take advantage of the one who might provide aid? I asked the usual questions for our referrals, providing names of other organizations that might be able to assist him.

It seems that both the caller and I are waiting for the “Good Samaritan”— he from his desperation, and me out of my hopelessness. As Dr. Christena Cleveland outlines in “The Privilege of Hopelessness,” privileged hopelessness births systemic distance: if I am unlikely to solve an injustice, why jeopardize my own status and comfort?

King calls us to reverse the question. If I do not risk my own status or comfort, what will happen to the caller facing eviction? What will happen to the victims of unjust systems? King invites more hope from privileged people, especially what we today recognize as “good” white people. But Jesus’ Samaritan parable is not an invitation for “good” people to swoop in with aid to prove the worthiness of their culture or race. When blood is on the pavement, Christ urges whoever is walking by to operate out of an elevated compassion, willing to sacrifice social expectation and convenience to save a neighbor.

King was assassinated while ministering to sanitation strikers in my hometown of Memphis. He worked at the intersections of racial oppression on behalf of those with diminished opportunity for safe passage. As he looked out on the white church, he saw that disengagement can rob as fiercely as the billy club. He understood saving help from the valley’s floor is altruism and equity, binding wounds and improving opportunities for the disinherited through just law.

No other organization waits in the wings with the solution to great inequality. There is simply the gospel that has mercy on the fallen and the fakers, the desperate and the privileged. There is Christ who healed the sick and upturned tables. There is King’s continued invitation to improve disparate traveling conditions. There is the inconvenient opportunity to assist the next neighbor who calls.

Crosswalk

Breathe

Love in action…heals all.
As you breathe in, say or think: “Love in action.” Experience God’s love in action in your breath and body. As you exhale say, or think: “heals all.” Continue this breath prayer and on the exhale, name what needs healing (personally, communally, nationally). Do this each day for at least 2 minutes and notice how the Spirit ministers to and directs you.

Reflect

Read the devotion by the Rev. Claire Matheny. What thoughts did she express that most resonate with you? Why?
With which character in the Good Samaritan story do you most identify? Why?
In his essay “On Being a Good Neighbor,” King writes, “One of the greatest tragedies of man’s long trek up the highway of history has been his all-too-prevalent tendency to limit his neighborly concern to the race, the class or the nation.” How does this statement reflect your life journey? In what ways do you, and your church, reach beyond what is comfortable to be the Good Samaritan for others?
“The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and moments of convenience. But where he stands in moments of challenge and moments of controversy,” King wrote. In your faith life, what role does courage play? In what ways have you, or do you wish you could, stand bravely?
According to King, “It is not enough to aid the wounded man on the Jericho Road. It is also necessary to change the conditions of the road which made the robbery possible.” What is one of the Jericho Roads in your community?

Create

Using paint, photography, poetry, music, or the artistic media of your choice, create an illustration of justice or of a “garment of destiny.” Share your creation with our Facebook Group or using #MLKbwc

Lead

Great leaders demonstrate and describe persistent concern for the welfare and wellbeing of others more than concern for preserving their own position and power. Our character as Christ-followers is formed when we seek to love as Jesus loves. This includes what King describes as universal (for all of humanity), dangerous (without regard for impact on self), and excessive (beyond the call of duty) altruism. As a leader who seeks to follow Christ, we must shift our question from “If I help, what will happen to me?” to “If I don’t help, what will happen to them?” Wisdom is knowing what is truly helpful versus what builds dependency or erodes agency. Great leaders are great neighbors.

Navigate

At this stop along the journey, ask God to help you name your destination. How will you testify to the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.? You could plan your own tribute (See the resource section to generate ideas), or identify something being planned by a community partner.

Pray

Merciful and Transformational God, who fills this atmosphere: we acknowledge your presence and love for your creation. Anoint us with the power of Your Holy Spirit and call us with every breath into deeper places of compassion and service for your people. Direct our footsteps into places and actions that evoke your kingdom on earth as it is in heaven and remind us of those actions that we can take as empowered by your Spirit to systemically transform The Jericho Roads among us. Transform us — our mindsets, our desires, and appetites, until they wholly reflect yours. You are the God who is with us and we desire to forever follow you. One body, we are. One God, we serve. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen.