Who is My Neighbor?

Jesus was asked, “Who is my neighbor? Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead.  A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side.  So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him.  He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him.  The next day he took out two coins and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’ Jesus said, Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers? The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise. - Luke 10: 25-27

Christians will be found in the neighborhood of Jesus – but Jesus is found in the neighborhood of human confusion and suffering, defenselessly alongside those in need. If being baptized is being led to where Jesus is, then being baptized is being led towards the chaos and the neediness of a humanity.  - Rowan Williams

AS I read Luke’s parable, often known as the Parable of the “Good Samaritan” I am struck by what Jesus says in response to the question. Often we think of our neighbors as the people we know, the people who live on our street, the people like us, the people who we might share a backyard BBQ with because we already know them. We like to be comfortable with our neighbors.

Jesus has a different idea, and as Jesus often does, he unsettles and undoes our expectations. No, being a neighbor is a little bit more comfortable according to the account given to us in Luke’s Gospel. It isn’t that we know somebody, or that somebody lives by us, or that we already know their name that makes some a neighbor, that makes them have claim on us and on our care. Rather, it is our ability to recognize their vulnerability, their need for care, and our ability to have at least the skills to care for them. We are, as health care workers, and those who support them, somewhat like the innkeeper, entrusted to care for those whom we do not know, simply because they are placed in our care.

Jesus reminds us that to be a neighbor is to provide care, and to have mercy, and to be with people who are suffering, vulnerable, and perhaps without other help. “Go and do likewise,” he tells the man who asked him the question. Over the last months of the pandemic, and indeed long before, I have seen so many partners “doing likewise” showing mercy, compassion and care, on both people they know and people they have just met.  May it be so.

Prayer:  Gracious God, we often see strangers in need of care, who are lonely, and ill, and fragile.  Yet, you have called and equipped us to see them, to care for them, and to provide them compassion, companionship and mercy, when they are fearful, ill and alone. Give us the strength to “Do likewise” as you have commanded us. We ask this in your name. Amen.