The story is told about a quaint little farming town that could only be reached by a narrow road with a bad curve in it.

This curve was the site of occasional accidents, and every decade or so, even a death.

Since the town was too small to have an E-M-S unit, members of the local Episcopal Church organized a volunteer medic service, and when word would come on the police scanner of an accident, these volunteers would be first on the scene to transport accident victims to the County Hospital.

The Church took this ministry so seriously, they even bought a used ambulance to help them in their work.

One day a town councilman suggested a wider road be built, one that would eliminate the bad curve. However, the mayor owned a profitable fruit market right in the middle of that curve - and was against the measure.

This councilman asked the rector of the Episcopal Church to talk to the mayor, as he was a parish member. But the minister, and most of the people, thought it best for the church to stay out of politics. So the following Sunday, the rector preached on The Good Samaritan and encouraged his members to continue their fine work of tending to accident victims, which they did.

It can be so hard for us church-folk to rock the boat.

It’s much more comfortable and safer to keep things the way they are - and even find some Bible passage to back it up.

The problem is that these injustices go on all the time - often untended by us.

We know foster kids need our help - but we pay more attention to Oscar winners.

We know our neighbors are lonely - but we know our favorite sports stars better.

And no one is even surprised about the news this week that rich kids get into elite colleges easier than poor kids.

In Sunday’s Gospel we see that Jesus' work of healing the world was something from which he could not be distracted.

So in Lent, we ask ourselves: how distracted are we from the work God has called us to do? 

How have we lost the script?

And how are we getting back on track?

May our attention be captured by on the problems - and solutions - that captured Jesus’ attention.