by calloused habit
and supercilious
attitudes,
Samaritans were
considered
disposable
by Jews.
Strife strafed
interactions
again and
again
over centuries.
When interrogating
fine points of
Jewish Law,
one asked,
"Who is (and isn't)
my neighbor?"
In Jesus-style,
a story will suffice.
On a dangerous stretch
of road - or dark alley
amid the stench of garbage -
a man (Generic Joe)
is attacked.
A Jewish priest sees
and looks away
but a despised one
(Samaritan, no less),
feeling gut-wrenching
compassion,
is moved to action.
Go.
Do like the Samaritan.
Neighborhoods have
no limits on love.
Every human being
is my neighbor.
Racism is the antithesis
of neighbor-love.
Artificial boundaries
are abhorrent to God
and must be exposed
and torn down
by all who follow Christ.
Look first within.
Acknowledge and let go
of privilege and
entitlement -
not God-given rights,
but man-made constructs
designed to perpetuate
the illegitimate legacies
of those in power.
Pray for and with
compassion.
Then act
like the Samaritan
who exchanged
hatred and fear
for loving deeds.
