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Mary, Martha and their brother Lazarus were friends of Jesus and they are frequently mentioned in the Gospels. We don’t have any record of anythng that Lazarus said but he is one of the three people in the Gospels that Jesus raised from the dead. The biblical record identifies these three explicit resurrection miracles performed by Jesus before his own resurrection.

The story of Mary and Martha has often been used to justify the position that contemplation is more important than service. I am not sure that is the most accurate interpretation.

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In today’s Gospel Jesus is asked by a lawyer what must he do to inherit eternal life. The question is direct and honest, unlike many of the questions of the Pharisees and Sadducees that are often multi layered and are intended to trap Jesus rather learn from him. Jesus answers directly by asking him about the Law. This was understandable as the man was a lawyer. The man goes further and asks Jesus who is his neighbour. Jesus answers him with a parable that has become one of the most well-known of all his parables, the parable of the Good Samaritan.

Jesus mentions that a priest and Levite walked by and did not help. You would expect them to help you. But they did not. As a priest I am saddened, likely they did not want to touch him as his blood would make them ritually unclean. It is disappointing that their self-concern prevented them from offering to help the man in need.

The biggest shock of all to the first listeners would be the man who helped him was a Samaritan. I am sure this shocked many people.

I recognize that the decision to help is not as straight forward and that helping can be inconvenient and sometimes will cost us. Living this parable may not be as easy as we would like. Sometime we have to put boundaries and limits around how we can help

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This story is unusual because we have two distinct parts. The first part focusses on the advice Jesus gives his disciples and the second part focusses upon their return. When the 72 return,, they are rejoicing after what appears to be a most successful mission.. They are excited about what they saw. It is noteworthy that the first thing the 72 disciples share is about their power. The evil spirits were subservient to them. Jesus redirects them and points out that they should be more excited as their names are listed in heaven. Yes, its power over evil but we are still talking about power. I am reminded of the phrase attributed to Lord Acton in 1887, "Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely". Lord Acton was a 19th-century British historian and moralist. Jesus was aware that power can undermine spiritual growth.