Awareness Wednesday :: Xenophobia, Part I — Compassionate Eyes
“But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbor? And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves…” (Luke 10: 29–30).
What follows is a beautiful and compelling parable. A Jewish man, robbed and beaten, his bloody and broken body left helplessly on the side of the road. Two men pass him, actually crossing the road to avoid close contact with the destitute figure.
A certain Samaritan notices the injured Jew, and he stops. Two men look at one another. One broken, one whole. Two men trained and taught to despise each other and everything they represent — their looks, their countries, their beliefs, and their traditions — all of it mutually despised and mutually ridiculed for generations.
Go back to the country you came from.
We don’t want you here.
You are not welcome here.
Set up more checkpoints. Don’t let them in. Protect our borders. Protect our families. Protect our way of life. They will change things. They will bring crime. They will take our jobs. They will make us sick.
These are words and phrases of fear that echo throughout the centuries. Fear of the unknown. Fear of change. Fear of different.
The Samaritan could have walked on by, forgetting what he saw, choosing to ignore the injured man. There are many who would have justified his behavior, his reasoning. Instead, he had “compassion on him.” This good and kind Samaritan dug deep into his heart and saw beyond the Jewish traditions, beyond the clothes and the features. His compassion allowed him to see this “enemy” as his neighbor, his brother.
Come warm yourself by our fire.
Come, sit at our table.
Share with us your stories, your traditions.
Work with me. Unite with me. Strengthen me. Teach me. Let us rise together.
Xenophobia. Fear of strangers or foreigners. Fear. Fear makes us small. Fear is easy. Fear allows us to cross the road, to ignore the broken and bruised.
May compassion seep deep into our souls. May we see with eyes full of compassion. Our neighbors, our brothers and sisters, need our goodness.
“Fear not to do good, my [daughters], for whatsoever ye sow, that shall ye also reap; therefore, if ye sow good ye shall also reap good for your reward. Therefore, fear not, little flock; do good; let earth and hell combine against you, for if ye are built upon my rock, they cannot prevail” (D&C 6:33–34).
Each Wednesday this month we will be bringing attention to the issue of xenophobia — what it is, and the effects it has within our communities, nations, and hearts.
To read the other posts in our xenophobia series, click here.
Jenny Rogers Moody is lead moderator for Mormon Women for Ethical Government’s Facebook discussion group.
