A Midrash On The Good Samaritan.

With a heart that is breaking for the flooding deaths in Texas, the lack of care by our governmental leaders, and the silence of our Christian community, I am considering once again the parable of the Good Samaritan.

Religious officials ask Jesus what is the greatest commandment. Jesus responds, “to love your neighbor.” Then he is pushed, “but who exactly is my neighbor?” And to this question, he responds with the parable of the Samaritan. As my heart breaks for our world today, I can midrash that parable for modern times:

“A flood ravaged through the state of Texas, leaving death and devastation in its wake. Tragedy was lying on the roadside. A government official looked upon the tragedy and said, ‘but we cannot help we have cut FEMA funding and The National Weather Service. It is not our problem,’ and he walked the other way. Then a Christian looked upon the tragedy and said ‘this is an act of God, there is nothing I should do to act on this.’ and then she walked the other way.

And then the Mexican president came. She was loathed and discredited by the community where the flooding occurred. But still, she looked upon the tragedy and took pity upon the people. And she stepped in and offered help. She sent workers and she sent money and she tried to heal the land.

And Jesus asked, ‘which of these three was a neighbor to the people in tragedy.’

And the expert in the law replied, ‘the one who showed mercy to the people of Texas.’

‘Go and do likewise,’ Jesus replied.”

As we ponder this parable in 2025, and our hearts break over tragedy and death among us, perhaps instead of raising the question of ‘who is my neighbor?’ we should instead be asking ourselves, “Who can I be a neighbor to?” For if we take to heart our command to love our neighbor, that is going to require us to act like one to others. Especially when tragedy occurs.