Who is my neighbor?

In this message from Luke 10:25–37, the familiar parable of the Good Samaritan is set against the backdrop of Juneteenth and the biblical conviction that every person bears the image of God. Beginning with the lawyer’s question about eternal life, the sermon explores how Jesus redirects the conversation away from possessing something and toward becoming someone. Through the story of a wounded traveler, religious leaders, and an unlikely Samaritan hero, Jesus reveals that neighboring love is not about determining who deserves our compassion, but about becoming people who show mercy, even toward those we fear, misunderstand, or consider different from ourselves.

The message challenges listeners to recognize the ways self-protection, prejudice, and distraction can keep us from seeing others with compassion. Drawing on reflections from Juneteenth, Martin Luther King Jr.’s final sermon, and the story of Mary and Martha, the sermon highlights the balance between sitting at the feet of Jesus and responding to the needs around us. Rather than calling believers to solve every problem in the world, Jesus invites his followers to notice the person before them, lean in with mercy, and trust that neighboring love itself bears witness to the kingdom of God.