Who is the ‘neighbour’ that God wants me to love? Jesus’ answer to this is profound. He shows them what being a loving neighbour means, it means caring for other people self-sacrificially. It means acts of kindness and mercy. In choosing a Samaritan as an example of a loving neighbour Jesus was saying more than may be obvious to us, but it would have stung the person who asked the question. In effect, Jesus is saying that the person God wants us to love the most is the person who is most antagonistic to us at this moment. In the case of the person who asked that question, it was the Samaritans, the much despised neighbours of the Jews. They had a really bad history with lots to hold against each other. They built up resentments over a long time and the bitterness was set in deep. Can you think of people who have really upset you and for whom you harbour great anger? Are there people that have hurt you and who you feel bitter towards? These are the people whom God wants you to love the most. They are your neighbour; your priority. They must stand first in line to be recipients of your love and mercy. They are the ones you must listen to and try to understand and empathise with. They are the ones whose feelings you must respect and validate. Think of the person you dislike and learn to respect them. Find the person who most deserves your anger and show them favour. Absorb the injustice like Jesus did for you and make peace.
Ask God to show you who most needs your attention and love.
Read Luke 10:25-37
