When asked, “Who is my neighbor?” Jesus told this parable:

A man was left by the roadside, robbed and beaten, bloody and helpless. Two men saw him there. They were religious men, schooled in the Torah, serving at the synagogue. They each crossed the street to walk on the other side, eyes averted, robes clean and unsoiled. They not only scorned the bleeding victim but also the man who followed behind them, a Samaritan.

The Samaritan was deemed inferior, not good enough for the religious men or worthy of their attention. But—he stopped to help the beaten man. He did not avoid him by crossing to the other side, but stooped to bind his wounds. And then he went the extra mile, figuratively and literally. He lifted the injured man to his own donkey and brought him to an inn, promising to return and pay any expenses his patient may incur.

As familiar as I am with this parable, it touched me anew. I stopped reading and confessed my reticence to be inconvenienced.

Everyone is our neighbor and we are all expected to be first responders. We are all called to show “Samaritan” mercy. Jesus ends His parable in Luke 10:37 with these words,

“Go and do likewise.”

God, give us responsive hearts.

Finding Hope, 65 Meditations for a Broken Heart