Three Parables: "Who Is My Neighbor?"

1996, Keshia Thomas protects man at KKK rally.
Photo by Mark Brunner.

Just then a lawyer stood up to test him. “Teacher,” he said, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the law? What do you read there?” He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with 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 given the right answer; do this, and you will live.” But wanting to justify himself, the lawyer asked, “And who is my neighbor?” The teacher replied…(Luke 10:25–28 NRSV)

A child was coming from Venezuela to the U.S.-Mexico border, and fell into the hands of robbers who stripped her from her mother, beat her, and went away leaving her half dead. Now, by chance a Catholic Priest was going along the road; and when he saw her, he passed by on the other side. So likewise an Evangelical Pastor, when he came to the place and saw her, passed by on the other side. But, a Muslim while traveling came near her; and when he saw her, he was moved with pity. He went to her and bandaged her wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put her in his own car, brought her safely to a nearby Bed and Breakfast, and took care of her. The next day, he exchanged his money — Syrian Pounds for U.S. Dollars — and gave it to the owner of the B&B, and said, “Take care of her; and when I come back, I will repay whatever you spend.”

Which of these three was a neighbor to the one who fell into the hands of robbers?

 It happened again…

A Black trans woman was coming down from Pacific Heights to the Castro District in San Francisco, and fell into the hands of robbers who stripped her naked, beat her, and went away leaving her half dead. Now, by chance a Black preacher was going down that road; and when he saw her, he passed by on the other side. So likewise a feminist, when she came to the place and saw her, passed by on the other side. But, a poor man — an atheist, while traveling came near her; and when he saw her, he was moved with pity. He went to her and bandaged her wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put the woman on his own bike, brought her safely to a motel, and took care of her. The next day, he took out his wages and gave to the owner of the motel, and said, “Take care of her; and when I come back, I will repay whatever you spend.”

Which of these three was a neighbor to the one who fell into the hands of robbers?

And, in 1996…

A middle aged white man wearing a t-shirt with a confederate flag and an SS tattoo was coming along the path from Detroit to Ann Arbor, Michigan, to rally with the KKK. He fell into the hands of protesters who wanted to beat him (to teach him). Now, by chance, a white liberal from the city was going down that road; and when she saw them, she passed by on the other side. So likewise a white conservative from the suburbs, when she came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But, an 18-year old Black woman who was there came near him; and when she saw him, she was moved with pity. She went to him, put herself in front of him to stop the beating, and covered his wounds. She brought him to safety saying to the crowd: “You can’t beat goodness into a person!”

The next day, she returned to him, to his children, and his children's children.

The story ends in the Gospel of Luke 10:36–37:

“Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the one who fell into the hands of the robbers?” 

The expert in the law replied, “The one who showed mercy.”  

“Go and do likewise.”