Harrodsburg Community Church

LOVE ON DISPLAY

Love On Display

Where is love most often displayed? I would suggest that it is not in the glamorous, but in the grit and grime of daily living and service. On August 31, 1997, Princess Diana died tragically in a car accident in Paris, France. She was 36 years old. She was a symbol of royalty and glamor. For days her death and life filled every media outlet. Just five days later on September 5th, Mother Teresa of Calcutta died of heart failure at the age of 87. The death of this one, whose heart had never failed to show mercy and compassion to the lowliest, was almost overlooked due to the frenzy surrounding the death of Diana.
Luke, author of the gospel bearing his name is known as “the beloved physician.” Luke concerns himself with many people who would be neglected by most writers of his day; children, women and the poor. Though these were regarded commonly as being insignificant, Luke points out Jesus’ special concern for them. One of the best known examples is the Parable of the Good Samaritan. You know the story. A certain man went down from Jerusalem toward Jericho. Along the way he was robbed, beaten, wounded and left half dead. A priest came along and passed by cautiously on the other side to avoid contamination. Next came along a Levite who simply looked and left. Finally a Samaritan stopped, and when he saw the man he was moved with compassion. He helped, even going above and beyond what might have been expected.
Most of us know the story. It is even the basis for the Good Samaritan Law. The story was told originally by Jesus to explain to a religious teacher of Jewish law what it means to love God. Love is most often displayed in the most unexpected and unnoticed ways.

-Terry Morrison