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I do not want to exclude offering help to those depending on the kindness of strangers, but this parable goes beyond that. It not only lays down a big challenge but makes an even bigger offering of gospel or good news. This is a story for people who recognize that they are on a journey—not just a journey from womb to tomb, but from birth to rebirth, from partial life to abundant life. The gospel proclaims what God pours into the hearts of all those who journey in a dangerous world. A year or two ago I read about a twelve-year-old Palestinian boy, Ahmad Khatib, who had been shot and killed by Israeli soldiers during street fighting near his house in Jenin, the West Bank. The boy had been holding a toy gun. He was taken to an Israeli hospital, where he died after two days. His parents made the decision to allow his organs to be harvested for transplant to Israelis. Six people received his heart, lungs, and kidneys, including a two-month-old infant. His mother, Abla, said, "My son has died. Maybe he can give life to others." These parents made their own journey into the compassion of God and were living eternal life. **

Friends and Family of Lakeway United Methodist Church-Pottsboro, grace and God’s peace to you and yours in the name of Jesus, the Christ. Amen. Organ donation in the United States: 

  • 103,223: Number of men, women, and children on the national transplant waiting list; 
  • 13 people die each day waiting for an organ transplant
  • Every donor can save [eight] 8 lives and enhance over 75 more.
  • 48,000+ transplants were performed in 2024
  • Every [eight] 8 minutes another person is added to the transplant waiting list

https://www.organdonor.gov/learn/organ-donation-statistics

At the age of nine, I contracted Hepatitis. A handful of us in the neighborhood did, plus, my dear friend’s mother died from it. Sad and tragic for our community. From then, I could not donate blood. Laws changed that allowed me donate blood. My goal, a 10-gallon donation coffee cup. Only was able to reach eight gallons. Long story short, due to health issues, I was limited in what I could donate. I decided to check the box when reapplying for my Driver’s License, to be a Donor. Read carefully, this is a legal binding agreement between you and the folks who decide, if upon your death, or are kept “alive” for possible harvesting, you are eligible to donate. [This I learned while as a Hospital Chaplain at Texoma Medical, Denison.] Yes, you can donate your body for research. UT Southwestern Medical Center. Call: 214.645.8300 or 1.800.882.2400, for more information.

https://utswmed.org/medblog/living-donor/?_ga=2.207950802.1770252244.1753647241-639162998.1753647241 

We can’t do everything, but we can do something. Give the gift that help others live.

Blessings from Pottsboro, Pastor Frank (alegria@lakewayumc.org)  

**James A. Wallace, C.Ss.R.; Feasting on the Word: Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary - Year C, Volume 3: Homiletical Perspective