Once, a young mother was walking with her infant daughter in the park. She dressed her like a doll because she was her first child. She gave her as much time as she could, according to her responsibilities, and also encouraged her to begin socializing with other children in the park.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The little girl attracted attention because she was cheerful and playful. The mother was beginning to get used to the fact that many people frequently approached her to tell her that her daughter was very pretty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The little girl enjoyed herself and smiled when someone came up to her with other children to play. After some occasional conversation about the children’s ages, the baby’s mother was asked:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Is she your daughter?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The mother was surprised by the question and replied yes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Back home, before going to sleep, the mother recalled the conversation. And she felt uneasy about having been asked that question. Her own conclusion was that she had dressed her baby so beautifully, and that she was wearing somewhat casual sportswear, that the difference seemed too great. With that conclusion, the mother was able to calm her annoyance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The next time the mother went out for a walk with her daughter, she remembered that question, which had been uncomfortable for her, and decided to dress differently. She wanted to prevent a similar question from coming her way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At the playground, while the little ones were spending time together, several people approached her again to tell her how beautiful her daughter was. They continued with a brief conversation about the children’s ages, and asked her the same question again:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Is she your daughter?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The mother was surprised by the question and decided to answer:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Yes, she’s my daughter. Why do you ask?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To which the other person replied:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“It’s just that you\u2019re so different. Your girl is so white, and you’re not.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The mother has brown skin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The mother was greatly surprised, because everyone in her family told her her daughter looked just like her. But that wasn’t the perception of other people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For you, what is easier to notice, the differences or the similarities?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The first time I heard a scientific explanation about why it’s not natural for us humans to notice those who are physically different from ourselves, I was extremely surprised.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
From what I remember, it has to do with the way neurons connect. We naturally seek to connect with people with whom we find some similarity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For that reason, it’s not natural for us to notice those who are different from us. Nor is it natural for those who are different from us to notice us first. It requires intention and attention. And above all, willingness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the case of the young mother, she felt neglected by the question. Although it wasn’t malicious, she felt that she was being singled out for being different from her daughter’s skin tone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Have you ever experienced any kind of rejection, condemnation, or assault for being different?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One consequence of seeking what is similar to oneself is leaving out what is not similar. What is different. Seeking to categorize and accommodate it sometimes runs the risk of rejecting it or labeling it as “bad.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the other hand, how much have you noticed when you have ignored someone?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Speaking of differences and similarities, Jesus describes how being a neighbor to others goes beyond what we perceive as differences. Someone asks Him the question:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Who is my neighbor?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And Jesus responds with what we know as the parable of the Good Samaritan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the parable, Jesus tells of a traveler who was robbed, beaten, and left on the road. Both a priest and a Levite saw him and passed by without helping him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And you, have you seen something similar? Or have you experienced it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It was a stranger, a foreign Samaritan, someone different who helped the wounded traveler. He was the one who behaved as a neighbor. He had the will to behave as such.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The priest and the Levite, being from his own people, had no will to help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It seems that being a neighbor is not about similarities or differences, but about behavior.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Could it be that Jesus is asking you and me: Are you willing to help, to be a neighbor to others? To those who are like you and me, and to those who are different from you and me?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If the Spirit leads you, share with Jesus the carpenter the similarities and differences you perceive you have with others. And perhaps, with willingness, you will discover how you can be a neighbor to others according to your abilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Marisol<\/p>\n\n\n\n
P.S. We can hear about the invitation to behave as neighbors in the readings for the Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year\/Cycle C.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Once, a young mother was walking with her infant daughter in the park. She dressed her like a doll because she was her first child. She gave her as much time as she could, according to her responsibilities, and also encouraged her to begin socializing with other children in the park. The little girl attracted […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":9437,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9439","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-general-2-2"],"yoast_head":"\n