Who is my neighbor?

The saying goes: “He who asks much learns.” A young child asks questions of his parents over and over again. He asks everything. And we enjoy his curiosity. The pupil or student also often raises his hand and asks questions. The teacher wants and does not feel tired when he sees the interest of his listeners. The adult also needs to ask a question himself from time to time. That, too, is right. He searches, he investigates, and he wants to prove something.

In today’s Gospel, we have witnessed the dialogue of the expert in the Law, who nevertheless tempted Jesus with a question: “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” (Lk 10:25).

What shall we do? What is God’s will for us? But then we are afraid to wait for the answer. We are so scared to hear Jesus’ response because we know the answer to that question within ourselves. We are so scared of being struck by Christ’s imperative: You are doing it right, you sense, you feel, you know, you see, you understand. Do this, and you will live!

The expert in the Law asks this question of Jesus, only to catch him in speech. Jesus, however, puts this issue on the right track of practical living. He does not instigate a discussion but points to a concrete example with the parable of the Good Samaritan. In this way, he forces the scribe not to speculate, to argue in speech. Jesus does not tell him: This I commend to you, I command you, remember this, but he says: “Go and do likewise.” (Lk 10:37).
It was tough to talk to the scribe because the Jews hated the Samaritans. They considered them Gentiles, so a wall of envy, hatred, and prejudice had formed between them. And the Lord Jesus, in this parable, singles out the Samaritan who has a better heart than the Jewish priest and Levite. The Samaritan, touched by a noble spirit, comes to the aid of his neighbor, even if it requires a sacrifice on his part.

The scribe’s answer was simple and correct, but the daily practice was challenging.
Love is one and simple, always and everywhere. But its ways are also different. It starts from our little self, but it must always lead from Jerusalem to Jericho through friendships, relatives, and various obstacles and pitfalls. It must go on, from breaking bread to breaking a heart of kindness, graciousness, forgiveness, and the sacrifice of life. In today’s modern world, neither computers nor atomic energy can take our place in this, for the only one who drives it is Christ, God, who is Love. These are not heroic acts of love but ordinary, everyday ones. Let’s consider today’s Gospel example and which character we act out.

The ringing of the telephone awakens us. The wife who answered it says to me:
– Mrs. Lattenberg has a heart attack. You’re supposed to go there right away.
– You know very well that the car is in the shop. Let them come for me.
– My husband is not at home; he is at work – comes from the other side.
The sick woman lived in a secluded place far outside the village. In summer, it’s a walk, but in winter, now… I started to get dressed. I, too, felt my sick heart.
– Call a neighbor to take me there.
The neighbor will drive back:
– Now, at midnight? We have the right to rest!
– They have the right, and what about me? They will need help one day; they shouldn’t forget that. After all, it’s a man’s life! That lady already had a heart attack once!
– You’re right; maybe they’ll admit it, – the wife retorts.
While I went to get my briefcase, my wife dialed a number. But no one answered. Even the Hausers were sitting in front of the TV and refused. They said they wanted to rest.
The wife said:
– What are you going to do? Walk to the crossroads; possibly, someone will pick you up.
Distrustfully, I put on my coat, lambskin, and warm gloves and walked out into the thicket.
– It’s my duty, – I sneered.
A car was coming from the town. I stood on the side of the road and waved my battering ram. The car passed close by, and the driver pulled up and continued in the direction I was headed.
– Villain!” came out of my mouth, and my arms were getting heavy.
Mr. Lattenberg shook the snow from his hat, slipped on his boots, and pulled a key from his bag. Before he could unlock it, the door opened. He saw a pale mother. Behind her crouched his two boys.
– I thought it was the doctor, – she said, disappointed.
– A doctor, why?
– Albina is sick. Probably her heart again. I telephoned him, but he won’t come immediately because his car was in the shop. His wife said he was walking, that he’d hitchhike someone at the intersection.
Mr. Lattenberg was puzzled. He pictured a hunched figure with a briefcase waving a battering ram in his mind. But why should he get his car dirty?
So that was him? Do you say he was waiting at the crossroads?
– You saw him? Why didn’t you pick him up in the car? Why?!
The mother’s face changed:
– You sucker! You know very well that he, too, has a sick heart and has to go slowly. He won’t come! And your wife will die! My God!
– Don’t cry; I’m coming for him. I’m coming…
He turned around, but his brother’s voice stopped him:
– You don’t have to, Charles. Albina has just died…

Which character in the story is similar to me? Who acted like a close person? Who can say: Do I have the right?!
Here, too, we can see what love can do. True love. A genuine Christian looks not only to his advantage but also to the needs of his neighbor.

Now we are sympathetic to the Good Samaritan. And whoever has not yet given himself the answer to the question “What to do?”, let him go and do like the Samaritan.
Go, don’t stand still, move! Open your eyes, and look around you! Is there anyone near you who requires help? Maybe it’s right in your family. Perhaps it’s your father, your mother, your children. Don’t wait for your big day, for the moment when someone hits you in the eye. Be a Samaritan, and do not spare the wine of love and the oil of consolation! Do it knowing that your eternal life is at stake.

A child asks, and when he grows up, he acts. The student, when he understands, will enlarge the ranks of the learned. The Christian today responds with acts of love.