The Trip to Jericho (Luke 10.25-37)
I was traveling a road some of my associates had warned me about. But I had business to attend and felt the risk was not too great. They told me the road was filled with thieves, that vagabonds ambushed the unwary travelers daily, especially those who traveled alone. I did not consider myself careless as I set out over the rocky roads toward Jericho. They approached me from behind, three of them, muscular and unruly. The hungry and destitute of the land. Some commit crimes to survive, others because of their hatred for fellow men. I offered the little gold I had, a handful of coins with Caesar's image. They struck me anyway, wanting my money, the cloth I wore and my blood. When they left me by the roadside I thought death was near. I faded into a world of darkness. I asked God to be compassionate toward me, to keep the animals from gnawing on my bones. Through a mouth tasting my own blood I prayed for deliverance. I h...