Jesus was a brilliant teacher because he didn’t give people answers but let them figure things out for themselves. Telling parables was an invitation for his listeners (and us!) to come up with our own understanding instead of being given a pre-digested meal. Rather than responding to the question “who is my neighbor” by giving a snappy retort like “everyone,” or “all you encounter” he told the story of the Good Samaritan. The neighbor, as the story makes plain to the questioner, is the one who treats those who are hurting with compassion. Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.” Our own evangelizing efforts will be most successful not by shoving the catechism at someone but by helping them wrestle with their own questions.