This week’s gospel challenges us to look at the prejudices we take for granted. As part of a conversation intended to disconcert Jesus a lawyer asks:
“And who is my neighbour?”
Jesus answers with the parable of the good Samaritan. It’s a disconcerting and challenging story. The Samaritan would very much have been viewed as the outsider by Jesus’ listeners. They would not have expected him to be the hero of the story. Yet, he is the one who, moved by compassion, reaches out in love to a man in desperate need.
I often feel the full impact of the parable is lost on us today. Having no particular issues with any of the groups Jesus identifies we can gloss over the challenge, ignoring our prejudice. Then it’s easy to identify with the Samaritan who acted with such care and compassion. A few moments reflection reminds us that the challenge is just as real today.
Like the lawyer in the gospel we can easily look for ways to limit God’s call to love, to restrict it to those who “deserve” it. That is not the way of the kingdom. The values of the kingdom compel us to love as God does, unconditionally and without boundaries.
If we are to shape our lives by those values, we need to respond to this question with open and generous hearts, so that everyone is welcomed with warmth and love.
Where are you being called to discover your neighbour today?