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Discussion Questions
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What do you think of the proposed immigration legislation?
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Why do you think it’s so important for lawmakers to control who comes into
the United States?
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Do you know any illegal or undocumented people living in your community? If
so, how are they treated? If not, how would you respond if they moved next
door to you? What is their role in your community?
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The majority of families currently living in the United States are here as a
result of immigration. What challenges do you think immigrants faced
decades or centuries ago? What stories (if any) have you heard from your
older family members about their move to the United States? How were they
treated? What were they searching for?
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Scripture Texts (NRSV) for Sunday, July 1, 2007.
(Text links are to
oremus Bible
Browser. Oremus Bible Browser is not affiliated with or supported by the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. You can find the calendar of readings
for Year C at
Lectionary Readings.)
1 Kings 19:15-16, 19-21
Psalm 16 (8)
Galatians 5:1, 13-25
Luke 9:51-62
For lectionary humor and insight, check
the weekly comic
Agnus
Day.
Gospel Reflection
Today’s gospel text can be divided into two
parts. In the first part, Jesus enters a Samaritan village and is rejected. In
the second part of the lesson, Jesus talks about what it takes to be one of his
followers. These two sections are unified by the central theme of hospitality.
Jesus is rejected by Samaritans (people who did not believe Jesus was the Son of
God) and chose to forgive them for their lack of hospitality. Immediately
thereafter, Jesus is approached by some would-be followers who want to finish a
few things first before becoming a disciple, and Jesus criticizes or scolds
them. It appears to be a strange double-standard. He shows grace and patience to
his enemies, while preaching about priorities and righteousness to his followers
and want-to-be followers.
Another interesting theme emerges between these verses and the familiar story of
the Good Samaritan that follows in the next chapter (Luke
10:25-37). When recounting this story, many Christians emphasize Jesus’
choice to lift the Samaritan as the hero of the story. When paired with the
verses from today’s gospel lesson, the selection of a Samaritan hero is even
more striking. Certainly Jesus had enemies all over the region. He could have
picked any group of people to be the “good guy” in his story about what it means
to be a neighbor. However, he chose a Samaritan as his illustration of
neighborly love—the day after he was kicked out of a Samaritan village. It seems
Jesus has something profound to say about what it means to “love your enemies,
and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew
5:44).
Juxtaposed against this tale of rude Samaritans (and Jesus’ subsequent pardon of
these people), is the account of two men who want to follow Jesus. They tell him
they need to tie up their affairs before turning their entire life over to
following Christ. Their requests seem reasonable—one man wants to bury his
father who died; the other wants to say good-bye to his family. Certainly people
in the 21st century
wouldn’t begrudge these disciples for such priorities and important tasks.
However, Jesus appears to hold them to a higher standard. As opposed to the
grace he showed the un-believing Samaritans, Jesus talks about the necessity of
being wholly devoted to being a disciple. Once we heed the call of discipleship,
it consumes our entire life and all our priorities.
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Discussion Questions
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How would you feel if you were kicked out of a town for no reason? Would you
feel like Jesus who showed mercy, or like the disciples who wanted revenge?
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Why do you think Jesus would use Samaritans as an example of neighborly love
shortly after being rejected by a Samaritan village?
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What does this story, coupled with the story of the Good Samaritan, teach us
about how we are to treat strangers and enemies?
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Jesus chose not to punish the Samaritan village that turned him away, even
though his disciples wanted to “command fire come down from heaven and
consume them.” What does Jesus’ response teach you about how to treat people
who don’t treat you very well?
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Do you think it’s fair that Jesus is harder on his followers than he is on
people who don’t believe in him? Why or why not? What can this lesson teach
us about Jesus’ priorities?
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In light of what you’ve learned from today’s lesson, how should Christians
respond to the issue of immigration? What’s the connection of the gospel to
our current debate and tension over immigration? Are these easy or difficult
words to hear and follow? Why?
Information on immigration and the ELCA:
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Activity Suggestions
The
group Dakota Road reminds us that “all are welcome, friend and stranger, at
the banquet of the Savior.” Ask the students to each think of one person
they would like to invite to your next youth get-together at church. They can be
a friend who is not a member of your church, or it can be a church member who
hasn’t been around for a while. Acquire some card stock, markers, glitter glue,
and other decorative material for the purpose of making colorful invitations.
Encourage the students to be specific in what they’re inviting their friends to.
Provide each student with an envelope. Offer to mail the invitations, or better
yet, ask students to personally deliver the invitations.
Closing Prayer
God, thank you for teaching us what it means
to follow you. Help us to see Jesus in the face of the poor, oppressed, sick,
hungry, homeless, and immigrant people of our communities. Give us grace to
respond to these people in the way you taught us—with
compassion and justice. May we be bold in telling the good news to a world in
great need. In Jesus name, we pray. Amen
Contributed by Erik Ullestad
Des Moines, IA
Permission
to reproduce for local use. Copyright © 2007 Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America. ELCA Youth
Ministries. 1-800-638-3522, ext. 2447. To offer your comments or responses to Faith Lens,
e-mail: rod.boriack@elca.org.
Program Resources
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