19
See what I've given you? Safe passage as you walk on snakes and scorpions, and protection from every assault of the Enemy. No one can put a hand on you.
20
All the same, the great triumph is not in your authority over evil, but in God's authority over you and presence with you. Not what you do for God but what God does for you - that's the agenda for rejoicing."
21
At that, Jesus rejoiced, exuberant in the Holy Spirit. "I thank you, Father, Master of heaven and earth, that you hid these things from the know-it-alls and showed them to these innocent newcomers. Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way.
22
"I've been given it all by my Father! Only the Father knows who the Son is and only the Son knows who the Father is. The Son can introduce the Father to anyone he wants to."
23
He then turned in a private aside to his disciples. "Fortunate the eyes that see what you're seeing!
24
There are plenty of prophets and kings who would have given their right arm to see what you are seeing but never got so much as a glimpse, to hear what you are hearing but never got so much as a whisper." Defining "Neighbor"
25
Just then a religion scholar stood up with a question to test Jesus. "Teacher, what do I need to do to get eternal life?"
26
He answered, "What's written in God's Law? How do you interpret it?"
27
He said, "That you love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and muscle and intelligence - and that you love your neighbor as well as you do yourself."
28
"Good answer!" said Jesus. "Do it and you'll live."
29
Looking for a loophole, he asked, "And just how would you define 'neighbor'?"
30
Jesus answered by telling a story. "There was once a man traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho. On the way he was attacked by robbers. They took his clothes, beat him up, and went off leaving him half-dead.
31
Luckily, a priest was on his way down the same road, but when he saw him he angled across to the other side.
32
Then a Levite religious man showed up; he also avoided the injured man.
33
"A Samaritan traveling the road came on him. When he saw the man's condition, his heart went out to him.
34
He gave him first aid, disinfecting and bandaging his wounds. Then he lifted him onto his donkey, led him to an inn, and made him comfortable.
35
In the morning he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, 'Take good care of him. If it costs any more, put it on my bill - I'll pay you on my way back.'
36
"What do you think? Which of the three became a neighbor to the man attacked by robbers?"
37
"The one who treated him kindly," the religion scholar responded. Jesus said, "Go and do the same."
38
As they continued their travel, Jesus entered a village. A woman by the name of Martha welcomed him and made him feel quite at home.
39
She had a sister, Mary, who sat before the Master, hanging on every word he said.
40
But Martha was pulled away by all she had to do in the kitchen. Later, she stepped in, interrupting them. "Master, don't you care that my sister has abandoned the kitchen to me? Tell her to lend me a hand."
41
The Master said, "Martha, dear Martha, you're fussing far too much and getting yourself worked up over nothing.
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One thing only is essential, and Mary has chosen it - it's the main course, and won't be taken from her."