Luke 10:36-37
Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.

Real mercy, according to Jesus and His story of the Good Samaritan, is not he that merely talks about or thinks about mercy, but he who shows mercy, the one for whom it is an action rather than just a theological concept. Surely the priest and the Levite in the story could give great discourses about mercy and quote Scripture about mercy and define it in common terms. But when the opportunity comes to show mercy, to put into practice all those concepts they learned and taught to others, they walked on by, content to leave a suffering man in his condition. In fact, could it not be said they actually withheld mercy when they chose to ignore this needy man in their path?

But the Samaritan showed mercy. Perhaps he wasn’t as well-versed in the theological concepts or the intellectual definitions, but compassion flooded his heart when he saw the injured man, and he could not pass by. He tended to wounds. He brought the man to a safe place. He spent his own money for the man’s care. And he did all that he could to relieve the burden of a helpless, half-dead man.

What are we doing to show mercy to those around us? Is it a mere concept that we talk about in church but don’t actually put into practice in the world around us? Especially as those who are recipients of the great mercy that God has shown to us, may we be willing to put mercy into action, to respond with compassion, to do what we can to help and to care for the lost and dying all around us. May the mercy of God flow through us to a world that is desperate for it as we seek to honor God in our lives.