An expert in religious law asks Jesus a question: how to get into heaven? Jesus does not answer the question but has the expert answer his own question. His answer is: love God and love your neighbor. Jesus says that is a perfect answer. If he had been in school, he would have received an A++. God’s word is open-ended or wide open. That is hard for us as human beings to understand. The expert in the story is just like each of us. We always want to limit and define every rule and law.
So, the expert asks Jesus another question: who is my neighbor? Once again Jesus does not answer the question directly. He tells the story of a man attacked, robbed, and beaten on the road who was left by the roadside to die. A priest and a temple helper see the victim and leave him there. Technically, according to the religious law, they both did the right thing. If they had helped the victim, they would have been contaminated and would not have been able to continue their service at the altar or in the temple. Only a Samaritan, a despicable, ancient enemy of Israel, stops to help the victim and pays for his rest at an inn.
In the end for Jesus, the important question is not who our neighbor is. It is not important to limit or define our responsibilities. Jesus calls us to be a good neighbor to all. Our life as Christians is about becoming a neighbor to all: sacrificing ourselves for everyone around us. We are called to live with compassion and mercy for all.
Image: The Good Samaritan by Van Gogh 1890 (after Delacroix). Van Gogh expressed a desire to make copies of paintings, including The Good Samaritan by Delacroix as a learning experience.
http://willvaus.blogspot.com/2015/10/the-parable-of-good-samaritan.html