Knowing the Commandments to love God and neighbor, a scholar of the law asked Jesus to define neighbor. Jesus answered with the parable of a man robbed, severely beaten, and ignored by two passers-by. Listeners would have pegged a Samaritan as no good, but he treated the victim with neighborly compassion. In another parable, Jesus depicted a traveler arriving late at night, prompting his host to knock on a friend’s door to borrow some bread to serve as a midnight snack. The friend who finally got up illustrated God’s responsiveness to the faith shown in persistent prayer. When the Lord visited two sisters, Martha wanted Mary to help with the hospitality. Jesus sided with Mary, who listened to Him without distraction. When we want God to take our side, do we persist without looking at how much focus we have placed on ourselves?