Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Who is my Neighbour? Addressing Ethnic Enmity

Enmity

We are living at a time when nations around the world are falling apart due to ethnic wars. At such a time as this we see political parties making use of these pitiable positions to further their own political agendas. In the pretext of promising justice we only get to see personal and political vendettas, where peace seems like a long forgotten thing. In this post we will look at this issue of “Ethnic Enmity” as and how Jesus Christ addressed it. The Scripture is taken from Luke 10:29-37, the passage well known as the “Parable of the Good Samaritan”.

A lawyer comes to Jesus with an intention to “justify himself”. There has always been a long history of hatredness between the Jews  and the Samaritans. Here we see Jesus addressing this ethnic enmity boldly, yet divinely. This presents us a way forward to address such prevailing tensions around the world.

Breaking Prejudices

While addressing this issue of ethnic enmities one important aspect is to break the existing notions and prejudices in both the parties. Unless those prejudices are broken peace is not possible. When down the history Samaritans were portrayed as enemies of the Jews, Jesus breaks that prejudice by showing a Samaritan as one who helps a wounded Jew.

“But a Samaritan while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them.” (Luke 10:33,34a NRSV)

Reconciliation is the Focus

Here we see Jesus clearly addressing the issue with the focus of brining reconciliation and not further divisiveness. Most of the times talks aimed at addressing such issues do not end in reconciliation but in further divisions. The methodology that Jesus uses is to not talk about the past but to show the “goodness” in the other party.

The reason for ethnic enmities is that both the groups have committed crime and evil against each other. If we would dig deep into it both the parties will be found wanting. Because past crimes committed against each other is factual, cannot be denied and both parties will be involved. So we see Jesus addressing the whole issue in a different light. He shows that -

  • People committing crimes against someone or a group need not always be from the other side. Even one’s own people commit so much crime against their own people.
  • Even in our homeland our own people commit crime by not helping people who are victimized and suffering.

“Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.” (Luke 10:31,32 NRSV)

  • Like the Samaritan there are people of the other group helping people of the opposite parties.

It’s not about Justifying

The underlying principle in this process that Jesus is pointing towards is Love, Forgiveness and Mercy. Only when these three elements are allowed to operate, reconciliation is possible.

“But a Samaritan while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity.” (Luke 10:33 NRSV)

“He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbour as yourself.” (Luke 10:27 NRSV)

It is not at all about “justifying” oneself or one group over the other!

Taking Personal Responsibility

The process of or way to reconciliation is possible only by taking personal responsibility. It is not about blaming the other person for what has happened, but to take the responsibility to rectify and restore.

The Samaritan could also have passed by like the Priest and the Levite, but he took it as his personal responsibility to help the wounded man.

Call to silence is not a call to unhelp

Some remain silent not wanting to attract attention. Some make unnecessary noise and fuss that may not be helpful. The Priest and the Levite remained silent. But the Samaritan went ahead to help the Jew. Only by involving proactively in helping the sufferers, reconciliation is possible. Being piety should be seen in showing pity.

When we look at the way the Samaritan helped, we see that he attended immediately, helped the wounded with his own transport, arranged for medical treatment, took care of all the financial needs and promised to come back and take note of the progress and healing. Such practical measures need to be done to quicken reconciliation.

Who can and who will do this? People who love God!

“He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbour as yourself.” (Luke 10:27 NRSV)

And if we love God we will help others even if the world and our own people say that “they are our enemies”.

Shown by Example

Jesus Christ not only proposed the way to reconciliation but lived and showed it in and through His life. He gave Himself to be crucified at the hands of the Romans, the ones from whose oppression was He expected by His people to deliver them from! He also handed Him over to be betrayed and hated by His own people, the Jews. Thus He showed that reconciliation is possible only through love, forgiveness and mercy and not by hate and war.

Let’s pledge ourselves to not bring partitions, but peace

Let’s work toward to not wage war, but warmth

Let’s pursue to not build prejudices, but paying attention

Let’s rivet on not developing resistance, but reconciliation

Let’s jump not to justify ourselves and judge others, but to join with others

Let’s partake in not picking on others, but take personal responsibility to patch up


This work is licensed under a Creative Commons license.

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