In our current appointment, we live in wonderful neighborhood that has experienced dramatic change over the last decade. Locals who have lived here for their entire lives often tell us, “This wasn’t even here ten years ago!” This is true in many regards, many of the businesses, homes and even our church wasn’t here just twelve years ago. Those many physical changes have changed the landscape quite a bit. Naturally, this boom in development was followed by a boom in population. There is a beautiful diversity that exist here. There are many languages, cultures and age groups.

Of these people, who are my neighbors?

In Luke 10:25-37,

Jesus is answering the question of an expert of the law. He asked Jesus this very question, “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus responds with the parable of the good Samaritan. At the conclusion of the story Jesus returns the question with a question, “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” The correct answer was given. The neighbor was the one who showed mercy on the man who fell victim to the robbers.

A neighbor is not defined by the proximity in which they live, but by the community in which they experience. How we engage with each other determines our neighborly bonds. The people who passed the injured man on the road all had a reason to be close to the injured man, but they ignored their obligations. It was the one who had a heart to help that showed himself to be the true neighbor. Despite their differences, despite what societal differences would have him believe, he still came to the aid of his neighbor.

I hope that we continue to be put in position to be good neighbors.