I cringe every time I read the story of the Good Samaritan. Not only at the priest who crosses to the other side of the road to avoid the injured man. Not only at the Levite who looks the other way when he glimpses the bloody, half-naked body. I also cringe at the reaction of the man listening to Jesus’ story, because I see myself most in him.
When Jesus tells the man that loving God and loving your neighbor is the key to eternal life, the man presses him further about his exact definition of “neighbor.”
“Looking for a loophole,” the man asks Jesus, “‘And just how would you define neighbor?’” (Luke 10:29, Msg.)
He wants Jesus to say, “Oh, you know, the old lady across the street…your colleague…the parents of your kid’s best friend.” He wants a small, cozy definition of neighbor.
That’s me. Looking for a loophole, trying to define “neighbor” in as limited a context as possible. I want my neighbor to be familiar. I want my neighbor to look and think and act pretty much like me. To share my same values, to promote a similar ideology, to believe in similar philosophies. I want my neighbor to be on the same page.
Why? Because it’s easier that way. More comfortable. Less fraught with conflict and anxiety and general ooginess. Because if my neighbor thinks pretty much like me and acts pretty much like me, I don’t have to question. My boundaries aren’t pushed. My comfortable little box of a life isn’t exposed. I can simply carry on, content, secure, unthreatened and above all, confident that I am right.
I’ve been reading about Dorothy Day recently for my 50 Women project. Dorothy founded the Catholic Worker movement back in the 1930s, during the Great Depression, when 13,000,000 Americans were out of work. She started what were called hospitality houses – the first one was her own tiny apartment in Brooklyn, where she lived with her young daughter. Dorothy fed and housed any person who knocked on her door for as long as they needed; no one was ever turned away. No one was ever told that they’d overstayed their welcome.
Later, after dozens of Catholic Worker houses had sprung up in cities around America, critics complained that Dorothy wasn’t serving the “deserving poor,” but drunks and lazy free-loaders instead. When a visiting social worker once asked Dorothy how long the “clients” were permitted to stay, she answered, “We let them stay forever. They live with us, they die with us, and we give them a Christian burial. We pray for them after they are dead. Once they are taken in, they become members of the family. Or rather they always were members of the family. They are our brothers and sisters in Christ.”
These brothers and sisters in Christ undoubtedly did not share all of Dorothy’s views – political, social, religious or otherwise. They undoubtedly said things that made her uncomfortable, or acted in ways that were unsavory or unacceptable. They undoubtedly challenged her opinions and perhaps even her faith.
But she took Jesus’ instructions “to love your neighbor as well as you do yourself” (Luke 10:27) literally. Her neighbors ate what she ate. They sat at the same table. They slept where she slept, in beds and on couches down the hall. They used her bathroom and brushed their teeth at her sink. Their children played with her daughter.
For Dorothy Day, there was no loophole. Because in her eyes, everyone was a brother or a sister in Christ.
So what about you? Do you cringe a little bit at Jesus’ expansive view of “neighbor?” Do you ever draw a line in the sand to differentiate between “neighbor” and “other?”
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Excellent post, Michelle. Yes, truly, neighbor is really anyone whom God puts in our path to whom He wants us to minister. And now the question remains: Will I *be* a neighbor?! Sad to say, there are times that I have not been. Thanks for always making me think.
Blessings,
Lynn
Oh I know, Lynn – there are SO many times I have not been a neighbor either. Truly.
such a great reminder here today, Michelle. In the two year program I was in to be a spiritual director , we each had to pick a spiritual mentor to study and read about. It was like walking in that person’s footsteps for two years. How did they pray? How did they discern? I read Dorothy Day. or should I say she picked me? I have tons of info on her and have presented on her life several times. Interesting lady, right? challenge me then and she still does today.
I’m fascinated that you studied Dorothy Day, Jean! She has absolutely wowed me. I wish I had more time to study her, but this 50 Women writing project has me moving on to the next woman before I feel like I’ve really had my fill of each. She’s one I will return to.
Oh, may I not be the one looking for a loophole… I have been too many times before. Thank you Michelle, for your graceful rebuke!
Hi Michelle! It’s my first time to link up with you – thank you for the opportunity! True, a “neighbor” can be found anywhere, even thousands of miles from home. I experienced the “love of a neighbour” when I had an attack of my illness in a foreign land that I couldn’t even move my luggage so I could ride in the train that will bring me to the airport to home. But as I cried and felt hopeless, an elderly man who counted me as his neighbour, took my luggage from my hands and carried it until I settled in the train.
Oh my, Rina, what a beautiful story – thank God for that sweet man!
And welcome to the Hear It, Use It link-up – I am so glad you are here, neighbor – 🙂
Love your honesty Michelle as always. And yes, your definition of that comfortable little “neigbor”hood is often mine too. May I be more like Dorothy, that is my prayer.
My prayer, too, Shelly — reading about Dorothy Day totally rocked my world.
I think I need to read more about Dorothy Day. Sounds like she was living Jesus. God keeps wrecking my loopholes.
Dorothy Day is incredible. She wrote a couple of memoirs herself: The Long Loneliness, about her journey to faith and Catholicism. And Loaves and Fishes, about the founding of the Catholic Worker movement. There are also a ton of biographies about her. A good one is “Love is the Measure” by Jim Forest – it gives a good overview of her life, and it’s a manageable length. Another good one is by William Miller, called “Dorothy Day: A Biography” but it’s a TOME!
That is a touching story!! Thanks for the linkup today. Have a wonderful day, Michele!!
This tells my age…I had to read her name twice….I thought…she is writing about Doris day?….you may have to look her up to know who she is….but then I read again….oh Dorothy …..and what an amazing lady….to be so filled with the love of Christ…broken bread and poured out wine….this is my hearts desire…can’t wait to read all these amazing ladies stories.
Ha! Ro! When I first started researching Dorothy Day I had mixed her up with Doris Day, too – I was thinking, “Doris Day…a Christian heroine…who knew?!”
me too, ro!
I am reminded of the saying that goes something like you know you have God too small when He only likes the same kind of people you like.
Walking all of this out in real life is hard. For me, I am trying to walk out coping with my mothers dementia and being gracious and loving when I scrub all kinds of filth and deal with behavior that is overwhelming for me. Sometimes the ones most hardest to care for our own.
Hi Michelle…Always love your “Hear It On Sunday, Use It On Monday” posts. Your honesty is so refreshing, and you always end up convicting me, which is a good thing! I’m afraid I am much like you as far as the ‘neighbour-in-need’ thing. I have helped neighbours in crisis, but they were much like me. I am also one of those people who may see someone in public who needs help with something, and jump in to help. But most of the time I find it difficult to reach out to those who are not so much like myself. Sad, but true.
Had to grin (and cringe) at the phrase “general ooginess.” Been there, felt that. Oh, to disregard that ooginess and love with that kind of wild abandon! Love the way you ever-so-sweetly tread on my toes, Michelle…
What an inspiring (and convicting) message here. This woman truly exhibited Christian hospitality. I have to admit, I tend to want to define *neighbor* in my own words – and yes, Jesus’ definition makes me a bit uncomfortable. But, He tends to “sew up” those loopholes, doesn’t He?!
GOD BLESS!
And one day, the neighbor in your own house becomes an other. That’s why I need models like Dorothy Day.
Thanks for the thought-provoking and challenging post, and for hosting. God bless!
Thanks for challenging us through sharing Dorothy’s story. Wow! She definitely helped “the least of these” as Christ calls us to.
if i spent as much energy serving as i do looking for loopholes….
I am always so worried that I have to serve everyone. all the time, which leaves me very tired. I am learning to wait for His promptings and act accordingly. And I realize that sometimes serving looks very differently than I thought at first. So glad you are at SDG today.
Sometimes I wonder if I am the “other” being offered the grace of God, then turning away from the gift, preferring to go it alone.
Loopholes? Oh yes. What a great way to put it. God can’t mean her! I mean really, God, do you mean her? Thanks, Michelle for calling us out on that one.
Loopholes are sure fun to run through my mind, as I seek to justify my thoughts or actions. But really , who am I fooling? It’s as if I can trick God.