The story Jesus told opens up an entire can of - food for the hungry, water for the thirsty, medicine for the hurting, transport for those unable to walk another step of life without help. The question "Who is my neighbour?", is answered by Jesus' question "Who proved to be neighbour to the person in need?" And the lawyer's answer, drawn like a deep rooted tooth reluctant to emerge, "Well, I suppose, the one who showed him mercy."
Mercy is thoughtful and costly neighbourliness. Mercy is the tilt of the heart towards those whose lives can be made better by our kindness and generosity. Mercy is compassionate practical caring about what is happening to folk who are struggling.
Emotional empathy and practical kindness, feeling and action, embodied kindness, the love of God enacted and demonstrated as a way of life; each a constituent part of mercy. We love because God first loved us; God’s love poured is poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit. God’s love to us is sufficient motive and our love for the neighbour is the energy source of mercy. "Anyone who does not love his brother or sister [or neighbour] whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen.”
Who proved to be neighbour? The one who showed mercy. God and do likewise.
Painting by Vincent Van Gogh, an interpretation of a painting by the same name by Delacroix. Painted while Vincent was undergoing an episode of serious mental ill health. Some interpreters see the Samaritan as Vincent's brother Theo, who tried always to be there for him when Van Gogh's life was overturned by illness.
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