In today’s Gospel, a scholar of the law asks Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?” He is looking for a limit. He wants to know whom he is obligated to love—and perhaps whom he can exclude.
Jesus responds with the parable of the Good Samaritan. A man is beaten, robbed, and left half dead. A priest and a Levite see him, but they pass by. Then a Samaritan comes along. The Samaritans were looked down upon by the Jews, yet he stops, has compassion, cares for the wounded man, and pays for his recovery.
Jesus changes the question. The issue is not simply “Who is my neighbor?” but “Am I willing to be a neighbor?”
Our neighbor is not only the person we like, the person who agrees with us, or the person who belongs to our family, parish, or community. Our neighbor is the person God places before us who needs our compassion and help.
Sometimes our neighbor is someone who is hurting quietly. Someone who is lonely. Someone who has made mistakes. Someone with whom we have differences. The Christian response is not to ask, “Do I have to help this person?” but rather, “How can I show Christ’s love to this person?”
Jesus ends by saying: “Go and do likewise.”
That is the challenge for us today. We cannot solve every problem or help everyone, but we can refuse to pass by the person God places in our path. Have a wonderful week
