Neighborly or Passer-by?

“But a Samaritan while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity.” Lk 10.33

One day, Jesus told a story to someone who stood up in a crowd to offer him a debate question. What must I do to inherit eternal life? Who is my neighbor? It’s a story many of us have heard many times, and with which we are pretty familiar. And so the story of the Good Samaritan began:

There was a man who was travelling. He was assailed and left for dead. Along came a holy person, who passed him by. Along came a second holy person, who also passed him by. And not only did they pass him by, they purposely crossed to the other side of the road to avoid him. Then, along came a Samaritan—a person who looked down upon by the groups the two holy people represented—and he helped the one who had been ignored by the others.

We like to imagine ourselves in the story, often as the “good” Samaritan. We see ourselves as loving God and loving our neighbor. But as one writer reminds us: love is action—love is what we do for those who need us. (Kristin Berkey-Abbott in Living by the Word; Christian Century July 3, 2019) And in the course of a day, we may actually or metaphorically walk by more people than we stop to help.

There are the obvious examples, like the homeless person on the street. But what those who have been robbed of their dignity and assailed by stigma, avoided by society? What about the person who has bipolar disorder, paranoid schizophrenia, depression or any mental illness? What about the person with disabilities, a chronic illness or degenerative disorder?   Well, that person should just be happier.  That person should go get some help.  That person should just go get a job and not be so lazy.  Crossing by on the other side of the street.  Who are we in the story when we encounter those persons?

“The man in the ditch reminds us what it feels like to be forgotten by others — and perhaps even God. The feeling of loneliness and forsakenness invites compassion and empathy for all who experience it.” (Amanda Brobst-Renaud at http://www.workingpreacher.org/preaching.aspx?commentary_id=4106)

Jesus began to tell this story in response to the question “who is my neighbor?” Perhaps another way to hear that question is with whom should I be in relationship? The answer which Jesus provided, illustrates that when we are in relationship with God, our neighbor includes those who are forgotten, lonely and forsaken by others—no matter how they ended up as such.

Jesus wraps up the encounter with the words “go and do likewise,” which reach out and prick us today. Having heard the story yet again, which character will we be—which side of the street will we be on—the next time we encounter someone who has been robbed of their dignity, assailed by stigma, and is hoping for a neighbor?