Episode 8: When Compassion Interrupts Your Plans: Becoming a Neighbor
Luke 10:25-37 (Parable of the Good Samaritan) + A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
Jesus could have taught in lectures, but instead, He told stories. His listeners were captivated by stories about fathers and sons, widows and judges, banquets and vineyards, lost coins, unexpected neighbors, and servants waiting in the night. At first glance, the parables in the Gospel of Luke seem simple. But beneath these familiar stories lies a deeper invitation—not merely to understand the symbolism of the parables, but to be transformed by them.
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In this series of the Be Still podcast, Lisa journeys through some of the most beloved parables in the Gospel of Luke. Each episode pairs Scripture with a memorable work of literature, exploring how great stories help us recognize ourselves in Jesus' teaching and encounter the heart of God in a fresh way.
Together we'll discover that the parables are not just stories Jesus told long ago. They are stories that continue to tell the truth about us—and about the God who is still seeking, forgiving, inviting, and restoring His people today.
"Which of these three, do you think, proved neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” He said, “The one who showed mercy on him." And Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise." (Luke 10:36–37)
Who is my neighbor?
It's a question that seems simple until Jesus answers it with a story.
In this episode, Lisa reflects on the Parable of the Good Samaritan alongside Fredrik Backman's bestselling novel A Man Called Ove. At first glance, Ove appears to be little more than a grumpy old man who pushes everyone away. But as his neighbors refuse to give up on him, we're reminded that every person carries a story we cannot fully see.
Jesus' parable invites us to look beyond excuses, fears, and convenience to discover what mercy really looks like. The priest saw a risk. The Levite saw a reason to keep walking. The Samaritan saw a neighbor.
Together, Scripture and story remind us that compassion is rarely
