“But a Samaritan while traveling came upon him, and when he saw him he was moved with compassion. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, treating them with oil and wine. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, ‘Take care of him, and when I come back I will repay you whatever more you spend.’ Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?” He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

What would it mean to “imitate” Jesus, in response to this passage? How has your understanding of someone deepened in a way that enabled you to better love that person? What practices help you grasp things and people in all their fullness and complexity?

Jazmin Miller-Price (she/her/hers) is a chaplain with Brighton Hospice, the presiding clerk at Camas Friends Church, and a member of the SCYMF’s People Care committee. As an Oregon native, she likes walking in both the sunshine and the rain and especially likes when both happen at once. She lives in Washington now with her husband Jerry and their cat, Pearl.

What does it mean to recognize “that of God” in yourself? What sacred responsibility or opportunity is implied by this affirmation? How is God growing your Love? How do we thwart the full expression of “that of God” in others, personally and systemically? How can I participate in the expression of others’ Love, whether through active support, through receptivity, or through simply getting out of the way?

Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand, and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. And not only that, but we also boast in our afflictions, knowing that affliction produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.

When have you put in the work to learn something new that would help you better love some person or group? What competencies are you feeling nudged to develop, for the sake of Love? To what does the work of inclusion call us? In what ways do you recall Jesus practicing inclusion?