Daily Devotional
The Neighbor Who Stops
Scripture
And behold, a certain legal expert stood up to test him, saying, “Teacher, what must I do so that I will inherit eternal life?” And he said to him, “What is written in the law? How do you read it ?” And he answered and said, “You shall love the Lord your God from all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” And he said to him, “You have answered correctly. Do this and you will live.” But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” And Jesus replied and said, “A certain man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who both stripped him and beat him . After inflicting blows on him , they went away, leaving him half dead. Now by coincidence a certain priest was going down on that road, and when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. And in the same way also a Levite, when he came down to the place and saw him , passed by on the opposite side. But a certain Samaritan who was traveling came up to him and, when he saw him , had compassion. And he came up and bandaged his wounds, pouring on olive oil and wine, and he put him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. And on the next day, he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, and said, “Take care of him, and whatever you spend in addition, I will repay to you when I return. Which of these three do you suppose became a neighbor of the man who fell among the robbers?” So he said, “The one who showed mercy to him.” And Jesus said to him, “You go and do likewise.”
Luke 10:25–37
Reflection
Jesus tells this story in response to a question about who counts as a neighbor. The wounded traveler is not given a name or social identity, and the people who pass by may have reasons for keeping their distance. The Samaritan, treated as an outsider by many of Jesus' hearers, sees a person in need and stops. Compassion becomes tangible through care, time, and resources. The story does not suggest that one person can solve every social problem alone. The Samaritan also makes a plan for continued care, involving the innkeeper and promising to return. Neighbor-love can include both immediate help and practical partnership. It asks us to see the person before we sort them into categories, while also recognizing that some situations require trained support or collective action. Jesus turns the original question around: the call is not to draw a safe boundary around who deserves help, but to become a neighbor. That does not mean ignoring appropriate limits or putting ourselves in danger. It means allowing compassion to interrupt indifference where we can act wisely. We may not be able to do everything, but we can refuse to let concern remain only a feeling. A neighbor is someone whose care changes what we do next.
Prayer
God of compassion, open our eyes to people we might otherwise pass by. Give us discernment to help wisely and generosity to share our time and resources.
Today's Question
Who could benefit from a practical act of care that you are able to offer?