Bishop Baskin's sermon wasn't just a sermon; it was a call to action. It wasn't just about knowing the law, it was about living it.
Bishop Baskin's sermon, delivered with his characteristic passion and humor, resonated deeply with his congregation. He wove together a tapestry of personal anecdotes, biblical wisdom, and a challenge to live out the truth of the Good Samaritan parable.
He started by highlighting the lawyer's question in Luke 10:25, "What must I do to inherit eternal life?" It's a question many of us ask, consciously or unconsciously. We seek the formula, the checklist, the "how-to" guide for a good life. But Bishop Baskin reminded us that true faith isn't about ticking boxes; it's about living a life of love.
He spoke of the lawyer's knowledge without revelation. We can know the rules, the commandments, the scriptures, but without truly understanding the heart of the matter, we are lost. We can quote scripture, but do we live it? James 1:22 says, "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says."
Bishop Baskin challenged us to look beyond the letter of the law and embrace the spirit of love. He reminded us that true faith is about compassion, about seeing the hurting, the marginalized, the "other." It's about extending ourselves beyond our comfort zones, beyond our preconceived notions. Jesus emphasized this in Matthew 22:37-39, where He said, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself."
He spoke of the Good Samaritan, not just as a story, but as a blueprint for living. It's about seeing the need, not turning away. It's about stepping out of our comfort zones, crossing the street, offering help, offering love. In Luke 10:33-34, the Samaritan saw the man and "took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine."
Bishop Baskin's sermon wasn't just a sermon; it was a call to action. It wasn't just about knowing the law, it was about living it. It was about being the Good Samaritan, not just in word, but in deed. 1 John 3:18 urges us, "Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth."
His message resonated because it was honest, it was real. It wasn't about perfection; it was about striving to be better, to love deeper, to live out the truth of the Good Samaritan's legacy.
And that's what makes Bishop Baskin's sermon so powerful. It's not just about the words, it's about the call to action, the challenge to live a life of love. It's a reminder that faith isn't just about knowing; it's about doing. It's about being the change we want to see in the world.
And that's a message we all need to hear.