Jesus was once asked the question, “Who is my neighbour?”
He gave the following answer: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead.
“Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. So likewise, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.
“But a Samaritan while travelling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
“The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, ‘Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.’” (Luke 10:30-35)
For Jesus, the actions of the Samaritan demonstrated what it means to be a good neighbour.
I am sure those who heard this were stunned by Jesus’ answer. How could he hold such a person as an example? For the crowd, it seemed impossible a Samaritan could be considered better than the priest and Levite.
There was a long, turbulent relationship between the people of Samaria and the rest of Israel prior to the birth of Christ. Despite the fact they both shared a similar Jewish heritage, there was a great deal of division and animosity. The influence of various political forces, different life experiences and religious practices, had created resentment and even hatred between these two groups.
This is why the parable was so shocking to the crowd.
Jesus uses a Samaritan as a model because he helped this injured man while his fellow countrymen ignored him. The Samaritan was able to rise above the centuries of prejudice and discrimination to show great compassion and generosity to a man of Israel who desperately needed help.
At the end of this parable, Jesus presents a challenge. He first asks a question of the one who posed the original question, “Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbour to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?”
The man answers, “The one who showed him mercy.” Jesus then said to him, “Go and do likewise” (Luke 10:36-37).
This command of Jesus is just as significant today as it was 2,000 years ago. We see many who are taking up the challenge.
There seems to be a great wave that is moving around our world, arousing in the hearts of many people a desire to honestly address the reality of prejudice and discrimination. Like a virus, it can infect individuals, political systems, religion, law, and economic structures.
From a Christian perspective, any form of racism or bigotry is morally unacceptable. The remedy is love.
Jesus wants us to love one another. He states: “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” (John 15:12)
At a time of anxiety and uncertainty, we can take comfort in the fact that love is winning over hatred. People are being ‘good neighbours.’
Unlike some of the mobs we see ‘tearing down,’ people of faith gather together in order to ‘lift up.’ We bind the wounds of our brothers and sisters and accompany them in truth and justice. We acknowledge the sins of the past, make necessary changes in the present, and look forward to the future with hope.
Who is my neighbour?