We'll keep the lights on for you!
A phrase made famous by a national motel chain Motel 6.
When I read the parable of the good Samaritan found in the gospel of Luke I am reminded of the Motel 6 phrase we’ll keep the light on for you. I guess an explanation is in order.
The parable of the good Samaritan is one of my favorite passages of scripture and I utilize the passage in my evangelization presentation.
Robbers attack a traveler and leave him lying on the roadside half dead. A Priest sees the man and passes by on the other side of the road. A Levite likewise sees the injured man and passes by. A Samaritan sees the man and stops attends to his wounds takes him to an inn. He pays the innkeeper and instructs the innkeeper to care for the man until he returns.
I have heard numerous sermons and homilies regarding the good Samaritan and without exception the homilist exhorts us to be good Samaritans. Well I have always had difficulty accepting the role of Samaritan, because it requires an aggressive personality.
We all are called to be evangelists but the aggressive style adopted by many evangelicals is not for everyone me included. So what am I to do I am obligated to share my faith. Well I found the answer when I discovered we are not the good Samaritan or the Priest or Levite in the story. We are the innkeeper. Think about it. Jesus is the good Samaritan he finds the wounded and brings them to us to care for.
We don’t have to seek out the wounded Jesus finds them for us. We don’t have to fret about having the required resources to meet the needs of those Jesus sets before us. Why?
Think about the modern day innkeeper, people seeking rest and refreshment stop at the inn present their request and the innkeeper fills the needs of his guest.
The role of evangelist is much less intimidating when we accept the role of the innkeeper.
If we are not out actively seeking people to share the good news of the gospel with how do they find us? How do weary travelers find a place to rest? The motel has a sign that indicates the innkeeper has rooms available it is a Vacancy Sign. Those weary from travel can see the sign glowing in the distance and stop.
Do we as Christians have a sign that leads lost souls to us? Absolutely it’s not a vacancy sign but the Holy Spirit. Christians spiritually prepared to meet the needs of others find they don’t need to seek people out people needing help find them by following the light. We are the light in a dark world.
How do we keep our vigil lamp shining brightly? By reception of the Sacraments specifically Holy Communion and Reconciliation. We must have spiritual food to feed our souls. God will use a broken vessel but he will never use a dirty vessel. When we receive the grace and forgiveness imparted to us by the sacrament of reconciliation our light shines brightly. When we have un-confessed sin in our lives our light is dimmed, un-confessed mortal sin cuts our power connection totally. Our vigil lamp remains dark until we receive absolution.
We are innkeepers in a lost world. For the sake of all seeking rest in a weary sinful world we must proclaim
We’ll Keep the Light on for You
When I read the parable of the good Samaritan found in the gospel of Luke I am reminded of the Motel 6 phrase we’ll keep the light on for you. I guess an explanation is in order.
The parable of the good Samaritan is one of my favorite passages of scripture and I utilize the passage in my evangelization presentation.
Robbers attack a traveler and leave him lying on the roadside half dead. A Priest sees the man and passes by on the other side of the road. A Levite likewise sees the injured man and passes by. A Samaritan sees the man and stops attends to his wounds takes him to an inn. He pays the innkeeper and instructs the innkeeper to care for the man until he returns.
I have heard numerous sermons and homilies regarding the good Samaritan and without exception the homilist exhorts us to be good Samaritans. Well I have always had difficulty accepting the role of Samaritan, because it requires an aggressive personality.
We all are called to be evangelists but the aggressive style adopted by many evangelicals is not for everyone me included. So what am I to do I am obligated to share my faith. Well I found the answer when I discovered we are not the good Samaritan or the Priest or Levite in the story. We are the innkeeper. Think about it. Jesus is the good Samaritan he finds the wounded and brings them to us to care for.
We don’t have to seek out the wounded Jesus finds them for us. We don’t have to fret about having the required resources to meet the needs of those Jesus sets before us. Why?
Think about the modern day innkeeper, people seeking rest and refreshment stop at the inn present their request and the innkeeper fills the needs of his guest.
The role of evangelist is much less intimidating when we accept the role of the innkeeper.
If we are not out actively seeking people to share the good news of the gospel with how do they find us? How do weary travelers find a place to rest? The motel has a sign that indicates the innkeeper has rooms available it is a Vacancy Sign. Those weary from travel can see the sign glowing in the distance and stop.
Do we as Christians have a sign that leads lost souls to us? Absolutely it’s not a vacancy sign but the Holy Spirit. Christians spiritually prepared to meet the needs of others find they don’t need to seek people out people needing help find them by following the light. We are the light in a dark world.
How do we keep our vigil lamp shining brightly? By reception of the Sacraments specifically Holy Communion and Reconciliation. We must have spiritual food to feed our souls. God will use a broken vessel but he will never use a dirty vessel. When we receive the grace and forgiveness imparted to us by the sacrament of reconciliation our light shines brightly. When we have un-confessed sin in our lives our light is dimmed, un-confessed mortal sin cuts our power connection totally. Our vigil lamp remains dark until we receive absolution.
We are innkeepers in a lost world. For the sake of all seeking rest in a weary sinful world we must proclaim
We’ll Keep the Light on for You
