Am I My Brother’s Keeper?

Good morning everyone!

Hey I just wanted to put this out there:  as you go about enjoying your weekend don’t forget to ask yourself this question – the question Cain threw back at Yahweh for asking about his brother’s absence:  “Am I my brother’s keeper?”  Don’t allow that question to be just about Cain’s biological brother. Let it be what it truly is: The question we should ask ourselves when we look into the face of another – and especially in the face of a fellow Christian (Galatians 6:10).  We are created for fellowship. To keep a watch for the spiritual and physical well-being of those alongside whom we are destined to share eternity.  Jesus, in the midst of a busy time of ministry is told that his mother and brothers have come to see him.  His response is found in three gospels – Matthew 12, Mark 3, and Luke 8.  According to Luke 8:19-21:  “rThen his mother and shis brothers1 came to him, but they could not reach him because of the crowd.  And he was told, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, desiring to see you.”  But he answered them, “My mother and my brothers are those twho hear the word of God and do it.”Lets start there.  What do you see,or better said who do you see?  And more importantly, who is it that Jesus wants you to see?  

Jesus himself expands on this foundational question beyond care just for the spiritual, ethnic, and biological family. When asked about how to inherit eternal life (which seems like a question Jesus received regularly – especially from religious people who thought they were already on the right path 🙂 Jesus responds with the parable that we’ve titled The Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37).  At the end of his story Jesus asks:  “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.” (Luke 10:36-37)

Jesus is pointing us down the path that leads to LIFE not death, towards COMPASSIONATE CARE not complacency.  May we all take time this weekend to reflect on how the same questions that stirred in the hearts of God’s people thousands of years ago are put to us today.  And we too, have the option to respond to those questions of our responsibilities for others either in spirit of Cain or the Spirit of Mercy.  

Blessings…