My Neighbor

Used to be we all knew our neighbors, we enjoyed time with them, talked with them, ate with them and relied on them and shared the ups and downs of life with them. Some places may still do that today, but not many - we have become disconnected from our neighbors by and large.

Back in Luke 10 an expert in the Jewish Law asked him about eternal life and how he interpreted the law? Jesus responded with Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and, Love your neighbor as yourself". Then, that expert asked him "Who is my neighbor"? Strange question since in those days neighbors were known.

But Jesus, knowing the intent of the question then told the story of The Good Samaritan where an enemy helped a man when his own people had walked past him in time of need. Scholars can debate the meaning of this but when I read it I understand that when Jesus asked that expert which of these people was a neighbor to the man in need the expert replied "The one who had mercy on him", he gave us a command.

Our neighbor is one who needs us, whatever that need is. Could be to find faith, to take to the doctors appointment, buy some groceries for or just have a conversation when they are about to fall off the rails. May be someone we know or someone we don't, but when Jesus concluded the conversation with Go and do likewise, he didn't qualify the circumstances. Just have mercy on them.

Think about how he handled folks of all situations during his ministry and ask yourself that same question "Who is my neighbor"?  It might give us a whole new attitude on how we do life!