Who are the people in your neighborhood?

Today I was reading the familiar story of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:25-37. Of course, I've heard and read it a thousand times, but something caught my attention. It starts with an expert in Jewish law, who, after correctly stating that the Scripture teaches to love God and one's neighbor, asks Jesus "And who is my neighbor?" (v. 29) Jesus tells the parable and concludes by saying "Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?" (v. 36)

In typical fashion, Jesus didn't answer the man's question. This expert wanted to pick and choose the neighbors he could feel good about loving, and not worry about anyone else. But Jesus turned it around on him. Rather than looking for neighbors, Jesus commands him to be a neighbor. There is no limit, no qualifier on who he is to be a neighbor to. He is to take the active role and assume neighbor status for everyone. As usual, this is a much steeper order than it first appears; one that we won't be able to accomplish on our own. It's impossible to be a great neighbor to everyone if we are stuck with our own minuscule resources and stingy hearts. But with God, nothing is impossible.