WHO IS MY NEIGHBOUR?

Some people enjoy knowing their neighbours by name. Others value privacy and agree with the adage, “Tall fences make good neighbours!” But it was Jesus who truly defined “neighbours” and elevated them to a higher status. It began when an expert in religious law tested Jesus by asking how he could inherit eternal life. At Jesus’ prompting, the expert quoted Moses’ command to love God and love your neighbour. When Jesus indicated that his answer was correct, the man asked, “And who is my neighbour?” (10:29).

Jesus replied with one of his most compelling parables, which was about a Jewish man who had been severely beaten and left for dead on the roadside. The badly injured (and perhaps disabled) man’s role in Jesus’ story was to simply to be present. A priest and a Temple assistant came upon the helpless man. These were powerful, capable men—regular Temple attendees and respected in the community. Yet their true character was revealed by their cold response to one of their own people. Both the priest and the Temple assistant passed by the injured man. It was a despised Samaritan who showed compassion and took action to help the injured stranger; “he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him” (10:34). Jesus ended his story in the same way he began, with a challenge to “go and do the same” (10:37).

Ask someone to tell you about their church and you’ll typically hear, “We’re such a loving church, and we really care for everybody who comes through our doors!” But ask about their disability ministry and many are at a loss for words. Some say there are no families with disabilities in their church or that the church across town has a good ministry for those families.

What if the Samaritan had just told the injured man, “There is an inn up the road—get yourself there, and nice folks will help”? Similarly, many individuals with disabilities are alone, with no way of getting to church, much less engaging socially.

Jesus pointed to the mercy shown by the Samaritan as an example of true love in action. Loving your neighbour may require extra effort or sacrifice, but that’s when your true character is revealed.