Unexpected Neighbors

Eighth Sunday after Pentecost

Luke 10:25-37

“And, just who is my neighbor?”  The lawyer asked Jesus after they both agreed that the love of neighbor, along with the love of God, lay at the heart of the Torah.   In response, Jesus tells the story of an unexpected neighbor:  a Samaritan who shows mercy to a man who was robbed and beaten and thrown into a ditch on the dangerous road from Jerusalem to Jericho.   Samaritans and Judeans did not like each other very much.  Theirs was a complicated and difficult relationship characterized by distrust, negative stereotypes and impermeable social boundaries.   Given the picture most Judeans had of Samaritans, I would guess the lawyer doubted that a Samaritan could actually behave like that!  Jesus’ story, no doubt, challenged the lawyer to think about Samaritans…  and neighbors…  in a whole new way.

“And, just who is my neighbor?”  The question is just as pertinent today as it was in the First Century.  If Jesus were to retell the story of the merciful Samaritan today, who would he put in the place of the “unexpected neighbor?”   A Syrian refugee, perhaps?  Or maybe an undocumented immigrant?  Or a young, African-Descent man?   Someone from the LGBTQ community?   The list could go on.   But, I think Jesus’ point is clear.  A “neighbor” is not just someone who looks, acts, believes or thinks like we do.   A “neighbor” is another human being.  Period.   According to Jesus, being a “neighbor” is not defined by geography or affinity, it is defined by relationship:  a relationship of compassion and mercy that transcends the usual stereotypes and labels we human beings use to divide up and judge one another.

“Go and do likewise.”  Jesus tells the lawyer.  Too often, I have heard people say that the church needs to stay out of “public” issues and stick to “spiritual” ones.  But here, and in other places, Jesus commands us, as his disciples, to care about those in need – in physical, not just “spiritual” ways.  The Samaritan didn’t just pray for the man in the ditch.  He tended to his needs, and paid for the innkeeper to do the same.   He didn’t just walk on by in a cloud of religious piety.  He took a risk, jumped into the ditch and got his hands dirty.

“Go and do likewise.”  Jesus tells the lawyer.  I wonder, who are the neighbors laying in the ditches in your community who need you to jump in with the compassion of Jesus?   Even more, who are those unexpected neighbors – those people around you that you or others might have written off as worthless “Samaritans” -- who may have a thing or two to teach you about what it means to be a neighbor?

Peace,

Bishop Mike

Thanks for reading!