October 30th, 2021
Scripture Reading: Luke 10:25-37 (NIV)

...go and do likewise.

Many of us have heard the parable of the Good Samaritan. The story focuses on a Jewish man that is beaten, robbed, and left on the side of the road. A Jewish priest (the highest in the social order of the day) did not help him. A Levite (another Jewish social elite) did not help him. However, it was a Samaritan (an ethnic and religious foe) that cared for the man, took him to safety, and paid for his care and protection. With this, Jesus states that the Samaritan is truly his neighbor and not the Jewish elite.

In this parable, that has many relatable examples in present times (black vs white, Republican vs Democrat, Christian vs Muslim, rich vs poor), Jesus illustrates that compassion is a verb rather than a concept. We become neighbors when we show acts of compassion. When we actively love our neighbors as ourselves. We may know that discrimination is wrong, however we never truly see “others” as our neighbor until we are with them as fellow humans, sharing struggles, and engaging in acts of love and compassion. The Good Samaritan became a neighbor through action and fellowship, not knowledge. We would all be better if we “go and do likewise”.