The Geometry of Love

Devotional Reflection, Thursday, June 5, 2025

The week of the seventh Sunday of Easter

The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D.

Key verses for reflection from today’s Gospel reading:

30Jesus replied, ‘A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. 31Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33But a Samaritan while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. 34He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35The 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.” 36Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?’ 37He said, ‘The one who showed him mercy.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Go and do likewise.’

(You will find the full text of today’s Gospel reading at the end of this reflection.)

Daily Office Lectionary Readings (BCP, 964)

AM Psalm 105:1-22; PM Psalm 105:23-45

Ezekiel 18:1-4,19-32;  Hebrews 7:18-28;  Luke 10:25-37

Today we celebrate the Feast of Boniface. (See below.)

David's Reflections

This parable has given us a cliché in English, "the good Samaritan," a cliché used often and sometimes by people who know nothing about Jesus' parables or even what a Samaritan might be.  The Samaritans lived in a region immediately north of the province of Judea in which Jerusalem was located.  They were a remnant of those 10 northern tribes of Israel conquered by Assyria in the 8th. Century BCE. Many of the conquered were deported to Assyria, never to return. Both Assyria and Babylon pacified conquered territory by transporting many of the leaders and people to their homeland, thus deterring insurrection in the conquered regions.

Jews of Judea (south of Samaria, Jerusalem and the area around it) regarded them as wayward and unclean people whose racial purity had been lost through intermarriage with the Assyrians and others.  Yet, the Samaritans had their own version of the first five books of the Old Testament, the Samaritan Pentateuch, and they maintained animal sacrifices, similar to those in the Temple, on the mountains of Samaria.  (Their Temple was destroyed by the Jewish kings of the Hasmonean dynasty in the second century before Christ.)

The obvious irony woven by Jesus in this parable is that the Samaritan was living more fully by the teachings of Genesis-Deuteronomy than were his Jewish neighbors to the south, who held the Samaritans in contempt.  Leviticus 19:18 teaches that we should love our neighbor as we love ourselves.  For Jesus’ hearers, that might mean loving your fellow Jew.  Or, the circle might be even smaller—loving your fellow Pharisee. The Samaritans were mortal adversaries, certainly not neighbors. Jews would not even drink from the same vessel (John 4).

Yet, Leviticus 19:34 says that the Israelite should love the stranger who is in their land as they love themselves because the Jews once had been strangers and captives in the land of Egypt and in Babylon.  So, here was a Samaritan caring for a stranger, someone very different from himself.  He was moved with compassion because he did not see an enemy or adversary;  rather, he saw someone at risk, another human being at the point of death.  Jesus makes it plain in this parable that whoever we might encounter is our neighbor.

What do you and I see when we look at others?  Do we first of all see people of different races, of different gender or transgender, of different socio-economic status, of different political persuasion, of different religious affiliation, of different sexual orientation, of different national origins?  Do we first of all see people given to violent or criminal behavior?  Or, is the first thing we see another human being in crisis or at risk?  What we see determines how we respond.  The priest and Levite saw the same person as did the Samaritan but only the Samaritan was moved to compassionate action by what he saw.

Rollo May speaks of a geometry of love.  "Friendliness and interest and other aspects of love are indicated by a movement toward, whereas hate and the negative emotions are shown by movement away from." *  The Samaritan was moved with compassion and moved toward the victim, the opposite of the avoidance behavior of the priest and Levite.

Perhaps we can be challenged by this parable to become aware of those we habitually move away from or avoid.  Against whom do we use emotionally derogatory or aggressive language? What barriers within us prevent us from responding with compassion to those persons?  What errant focus determines what we see?

How can we respond differently to others? We can become honest about those we disdain or hold in contempt. We can pray for the compassion of Jesus to move us beyond those emotional, social, racial, and political barriers and to become vulnerable by moving toward those we previously avoided.  We can pray for the ability to see the other as our neighbor.  The Samaritan risked himself for another.  Who are those persons Jesus would have me risk myself for?  He looks on them with compassion.  Can I pray for grace to do the same?

What is my personal geometry of love? What next step must I take to alter it?

* Rollo May, The Art of Counseling (Nashville:  Abingdon, 1939), p. 105.

Collect of the day, Seventh Sunday of Easter: The Sunday after Ascension Day

O God, the King of glory, you have exalted your only Son Jesus Christ with great triumph to your kingdom in heaven:  Do not leave us comfortless, but send us your Holy Spirit to strengthen us, and exalt us to that place where our Savior Christ has gone before; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory

everlasting. Amen.  (BCP, 226)

A Collect for the Weekdays of Easter

O God, by the glorification of Jesus Christ and the coming of the Holy Spirit you have opened for us the gates of your kingdom: Grant that we, who have received such great gifts, may dedicate ourselves more diligently to your service, and live more fully the riches of our faith; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever Amen. (Weekday Eucharistic Propers, pp. 68-69)

Today we celebrate the Feast of Boniface, bishop, missionary, martyr (died 5 June 754 CE).

Collect of the Feast of Boniface

Pour out your Holy Spirit, O God, upon your church in every land, that like your servant Boniface we might proclaim the Gospel to all nations, that your kingdom might be enlarged and that your holy Name might be glorified in all the world; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the same Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

A Collect for Protection

O God, the life of all who live, the light of the faithful, the strength of those who labor, and the repose of the dead: We thank you for the blessings of the day that is past, and humbly ask for your protection through the coming night. Bring us in safety to the morning hours; through him who died and rose again for us, your Son our Savior Jesus Christ.  Amen.  (BCP, 124)

For Peace

Almighty God, kindle, we pray, in every heart the true love of peace, and guide with your wisdom those who take counsel for the nations of the earth, that in tranquility your dominion may increase until the earth is filled with the knowledge of your love; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.  (BCP, 258)

A Collect for the Presence of Christ

Lord Jesus, stay with us, for evening is at hand and the day is past; be our companion in the way, kindle our hearts, and awaken hope, that we may know you as you are revealed in Scripture and the breaking of bread. Grant this for the sake of your love. Amen.  (BCP, 124)

A Collect for Mission

O God of all the nations of the earth: Remember the multitudes who have been created in your image but have not known the redeeming work of our Savior Jesus Christ; and grant that, by the prayers and labors of your holy Church, they may be brought to know and worship you as you have been revealed in your Son; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (BCP, 257)

Daily Office Gospel, Luke 10:25-37

25 Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. ‘Teacher,’ he said, ‘what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ 26He said to him, ‘What is written in the law? What do you read there?’ 27He answered, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.’ 28And he said to him, ‘You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.’ 29But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, ‘And who is my neighbor?’ 30Jesus replied, ‘A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. 31Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33But a Samaritan while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. 34He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35The 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.” 36Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?’ 37He said, ‘The one who showed him mercy.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Go and do likewise.’

Daily Prayer Offices in The Book of Common Prayer

Morning Prayer, Rite 2, page 75, Book of Common Prayer

Noonday Prayer, p. 103, Book of Common Prayer

Order of Worship for Evening (Vespers), p. 109, Book of Common Prayer 

Evening Prayer, Rite 2, page 115, Book of Common Prayer 

Compline (Night Prayer), Page 127, Book of Common Prayer

Daily Devotionals, page 136, Book of Common Prayer