A PhD student in Theology asked the teacher "Who is my neighbor?" The teacher responded with the following. While a man was returning home on a side street late at night, he was mugged, beaten, and left for dead. The following morning, a politician passed by on the same road. The politician was talking on his cell phone and didn’t notice the man lying on the side of the road. Similarly, an executive passed by on the same road and noticed the man lying on the side of the road, but decided it was too risky to stop and help. What if he sues me? the executive thought.

Shortly there after, an immigrant from Central America drove by and saw the man lying on the side of the road. The immigrant had compassion on him and pulled over. He realized that the man was badly hurt and that it might be dangerous to move him so he called 911 using his cell phone. The 911 attendant on the other end of the call ordered an ambulance to be rushed over. After ending the call, he stayed by the injured man’s side and comforted him until the ambulance arrived.

Of these men, which one do you think was the neighbor of the man who fell among robbers? The student answered the one who showed mercy on him.