Sometimes the Gospels surprise me by what is not said.

In today's Gospel reading, a man approaches Jesus and asks a very simple question. "Teacher," the man asks, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" I'm struck by what Jesus does not say.

Jesus does not tell the man to go to church. He does not tell him to avoid particularly egregious sins. Jesus doesn't quiz the man about his views on controversial social or political issues. He doesn't tell him how to vote. Most surprisingly, Jesus does not tell the man what not to do.

This would be a surprising story even if it ended there. In our age of polarized debate, it is always a pleasant surprise to be directed to the heart of what faith is about rather than to the divisive issues of the day. The man, however, is apparently not satisfied with Jesus' response and asks another question: "Who is my neighbor?"

This seems like a strange question. I mean, your neighbor is, well, your neighbor. Someone who lives in your vicinity. Jesus answers the question with a story about a man who takes care of someone who is not his neighbor, a stranger lying beaten and bleeding on the side of the road. Religious people pass the poor fellow by, as they are on their way to important functions.

Finally, a Samaritan - a foreigner and outcast in the eyes of the religious elite - takes the man in, binds his wounds, and arranges for his care and recovery. "Who was a neighbor to the robber's victim?" Jesus asks. The answer is obvious. "The one who treated him with mercy."

Love God and love your neighbor. If you're first question is "Who is my neighbor?", you're asking the wrong question. That's like asking, "Who am I supposed to love?" That might be a better question, because it's easier to understand that the answer is anyone in our path who needs compassion and generosity.

The Gospel message is simple, but it is not easy. It would be nice, I suppose, if the secret to eternal life was a matter of adherence to a set of rules - say the right prayers, attend the right religious celebrations, make appropriate donations to your local congregation, etc. Even though such rules can present logistical challenges, they are nowhere near as challenging as the call to respond to all the people we encounter with love and compassion and generosity.

Following Christ is about being a good neighbor to all the people we find on our own roads. We can talk in theory about what it means to be a Christian but when asked for clarification, Jesus suggests the real test is how we treat the next person we see. Do we see and respond to their needs, or simply ignore them?

Bill Peatman writes from Napa.