Would We Look the Other Way?

I don’t know about you, but I did. Looked the other way, that is! It seemed there were beggars holding signs on every corner of this busy Austin intersection. The light was red and one was coming down the line of cars toward me. I hoped for the light to turn green before he got to me. It did. Whew! Spared that dilemma: “Do I give him a dollar or some change or do I avoid looking at him?” I avoided looking at him. But, my conscience hurt as I passed him. Would it have been worth the change or a dollar to NOT have this moment when I felt like I let God down. After all, I am that girl who makes up bags of a water bottle and a package of crackers and cheese to at least give something. How could I be so heartless?

Yesterday, my blog was about “Loving our neighbors as we love ourselves.” The emphasis on “loving ourselves”. Now today, our Gospel reading in Luke 10, Jesus speaks those words to an inquiring lawyer. I want “neighbor” clarified once and for all! The lawyer and I both ask: “So who is my neighbor anyway?”

I dove deeper into Jesus response. Whatever this lawyer had in mind for the answer, I’m sure it wasn’t the story that Jesus told. And I’m sure it’s not what we would expect either. We all may know the parable of the Good Samaritan that followed in Jesus response. It seems the “neighbor” is the man going to Jericho who was beaten and left for dead — the one who three men encounter. I think the “Good Samaritan”, the one who helped this man, also proved to be a good neighbor. It made me want to be like this Samaritan who helped when help was needed and not get all caught up in questions about who we’re supposed to help, and when, where and how, and what if it will make me late for church on Sunday if I stop? I know the dialogue well!

What I’ve come to realize about our neighbors is it’s more about OUR identity, not theirs. What matters first is who we are. The radical truth is that in Christ we have been given a right standing before God and we are propelled in love for God and others by the power of His Spirit in us. So that affects the way we see those around us. It’s not because they’ve become something different, but because we have.

Of course, we could make a thousand qualifiers. The Good Samaritan didn’t give his spare change to buy another bottle of whiskey, and from what I understand in working with the homeless, it’s not the best use of our resources either. But I’m thinking that more importantly is that maybe we get lost in the qualifiers too often — about when help can hurt and who are the poor. These are all important questions, and we do well to give them careful thought.

But while we think, and think we must, may we never lose sight that the central issue has to do with how the Gospel message bears on our own souls. God made us new creatures in Christ — empowered to love others for His sake. I’m sure God wants us to help the poor and blesses us when we do. In the words of the Psalmist David: “Blessed is he who has regard for the weak; the LORD delivers him in times of trouble. The LORD will protect him and preserve his life; he will bless him in the land and not surrender him to the desire of his foes” (Psalm 41:1-2).

It is indeed a worthy cause to help the poor, including the sign-holders on our street corners. Each of us must respond to these people as the Lord guides us, not forgetting at the same time to offer prayers for needy people. Personally, I’m determined to not over-analyze should I or shouldn’t I, but I think I’m going to make up some more of those bags or have a protein bar on hand to give to them, look them in the eyes and say “God loves you and so do I.” How could that be anything but loving my neighbor as I love myself and God loves me?