This is a great question, but it also forces us to ask another question: “Who is my neighbor?” It’s easy for us to see the neighbor to the right or to the left or even across the street, but is that where our obligations end as good neighbors?
This was the same question posed in Luke 10 when an “expert” in Jewish law was questioning Jesus about the requirements for eternal life. In his initial response, Jesus included the mandate to “love your neighbor as yourself,” and the expert countered with “Who is my neighbor?” This is when Jesus goes into the parable of the Good Samaritan.
It’s important to note that three of the people in this story were Jewish (including the injured man) and the Samaritan, who was basically an unwanted outsider whom Jews would normally avoid at all costs. But after the first two Jews (a Scribe and a Pharisee) whiffed on their opportunity to help their fellow countryman, the outcast Samaritan happens upon the scene and helps someone who most likely would have shunned him had they met earlier. The kind and loving actions of the Samaritan possibly save the life of the injured (and destitute) man and, at the very least, bring him comfort in a time of need.
At the end of the story, Jesus poses his own question: “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” To this, the expert replies, “The one who had mercy on him.” And Jesus follows with, “Go and do likewise.”
Mercy is a major requirement that Jesus gives us when we are dealing with neighbors, but the mandate goes beyond borders and boundaries and has much more to do with need. We should show kindness and love to our neighbors, and believe me, I understand how hard that can be when you have difficult people living next door. But Jesus wants us to see our neighbors through his eyes and to show them his love and kindness. And this kind of grace and mercy extends to everyone who crosses our path, even if that path is far from home.
