“‘哪一个是落在强盗手中的邻舍呢？’” - 路 10:36

我们站在屋子背后的楼梯，惊惶失措地蜷缩在一起，感到前途叵测；我们管家的妻子吓得浑身发抖，她刚刚向我们报告说：“城内爆发了恐怖事件。”

当天是1976年9月21日，地点是尼日利亚的马库尔迪市。传来的消息确实很恐怖，整个晚上，市中心都不断爆发暴力事件，商店被劫掠、住宅被破坏、还有一百个伊博族人被屠杀。

有一个负责看管我们庭院的伊博族青年，也和我们一起站在楼梯上。我仍然记得他在恐慌中睁得大大的眼睛；被杀害的是他的族人、他的百姓；他也身处险境，我们需要采取行动来保护他，但可以做什么呢？

我们那位年青蒂夫族的管家挺身而出，遵行耶稣的吩咐去做一个好邻舍。爱心和关怀胜过了他的恐惧，他提出一个方案：“我晓得一条穿过田野、直达火车站的路，我想我可以带他安全走到那里。”

鉴于没有更好的选择，我们的伊博族朋友便急忙收拾细软准备起行。我们聚集在楼梯间，以祷告来道别。他们就这样离开了 － 两个人结伴同行。

我们深深为我们的年青伊博族朋友忧伤，然而，我们这位年青的管家，却让我们看到作一个好邻舍的真谛 － 远超过种族隔阂和身份界限。耶稣说：“你去照样行吧。”

祷告

主啊，我们为我们生命中的“好撒玛利亚人”感谢你。求你带领我们做一个忠诚的邻舍。阿们。

路加福音 10:25-37

25有一个律法师起来试探耶稣，说：“夫子，我该做什么才可以承受永生？”
26耶稣对他说：“律法上写的是什么？你念的是怎样呢？”
27他回答说：“你要尽心、尽性、尽力、尽意爱主你的神，又要爱邻舍如同自己。”
28耶稣说：“你回答的是。你这样行，就必得永生。”
29那人要显明自己有理，就对耶稣说：“谁是我的邻舍呢？”
30耶稣回答说：“有一个人从耶路撒冷下耶利哥去，落在强盗手中。他们剥去他的衣裳，把他打个半死，就丢下他走了。
31偶然有一个祭司从这条路下来，看见他，就从那边过去了。
32又有一个利未人来到这地方，看见他，也照样从那边过去了。
33唯有一个撒马利亚人行路来到那里，看见他，就动了慈心，
34上前用油和酒倒在他的伤处，包裹好了，扶他骑上自己的牲口，带到店里去照应他。
35第二天拿出二钱银子来，交给店主说：‘你且照应他，此外所费用的，我回来必还你。’
36你想，这三个人哪一个是落在强盗手中的邻舍呢？”
37他说：“是怜悯他的。”耶稣说：“你去照样行吧。”

Faith—Being A Neighbor

"Which of these . . . was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?" - Luke 10:36

We stood on our back steps, huddled in fearful uncertainty. Our steward's wife, shaking with fright, had just reported to us: "Terrible things are happening in the city."

It was September 21, 1967, in Makurdi, Nigeria. The news was indeed terrible. During the night violence had ­erupted downtown. Shops were ­looted, homes were destroyed, and a hundred people of the Igbo tribe were slaughtered.

Included in the group on our steps was a young Igbo man who took care of our yard. I can still see his eyes, wide with fear. It was his tribe, his people, that were being killed. He was in danger. We needed to do something to protect him. But what?

Our young Tiv steward became the neighbor that Jesus calls us to be. Compassion and concern overruled his fear as he offered a suggestion: "I know a path through the field that leads to the rail station. I think I can get him there ­safely."

We could think of no better option. Our Igbo friend quickly gathered his goods and prepared himself to go. We gathered again on our steps for a prayerful goodbye. And then off they went—the two of them together.

We hurt deeply for our young Igbo friend. But our young steward showed us what it means to be a neighbor—crossing tribal lines and status boundaries. Jesus says, "Go and do likewise."

Prayer

Lord, thank you for the "good Samaritans" in our lives. Move us to be true neighbors. Amen.