Day 26: Will You Be My Neighbor? - Luke 10

Many of us will gloss over the story of The Good Samaritan when it comes time to read this assignment. "Oh, I know that one." I've said before. But take a minute and think about the moral of the story. Don't think so much about the details of the plot, the people who walked by, etc. Think about the "big idea" that Jesus is trying to convey. The conversation leading up to this parable is interesting. A pharisee is trying to impress Jesus and the crowds with his question...and Jesus returns volley, closing with the command to love your neighbor as yourself. At the heart of the passage is the pharisee's question as he tries to "justify himself," or save face. Mr. Smarty Pants asks Jesus, "Who is my neighbor?"

In my little world I have a few neighbors. In fact, the closest one lives a quarter of a mile down the road...welcome to country life! If Jesus just means to love those people who live one house in each direction, then that's doable/tolerable/comfortable. But the point of this story is that EVERYBODY is my neighbor. (Cue the Mr. Rogers' theme song here..."Will you be my neighbor?") The gist of the parable is that the most unlikely people are your neighbors. In fact, the people who are the farthest from you socially, racially, and economically should be considered neighbors. He defines that subgroup as "everybody," then reminds you to love them as much as you love yourself. Jesus refers to this as showing "mercy" to them (v.37). When I think of mercy, the perspective of the mercy-giver is a position that is higher than the mercy receiver. A mercy receiver is in need of help. I extend mercy to someone who NEEDS it. That usually means they are in a bad situation, likely lower than my own. So mercy drives our hearts as we extend concern for everybody. This concern should not be in a "well bless his little heart way," but in a way that empathizes and genuinely cares about that person's welfare. So, to narrow it down...or really to broaden it out...love everybody as well as you love yourself with an empathetic heart of concern. Why should we do it? Because Jesus demands it. And it reflects the heart of God, who gave great mercy out of a heart of concern for us.