Loving Our Neighbor, by The Rev. Bonnie S. Matthews, Deacon
Posted on
Sermon
July 10, 2016
Year C Proper 10
Amos 7:7-17 Psalm 82 Colossians 1:1-14 Luke 10:25-37
In the name of God who, through Jesus, calls us into a new relationship to love our neighbor through acts of justice and mercy.
Because as Episcopalians our Catechism addresses the Summary of The Law, I would like to dwell on The New Covenant. Therefore I am stepping out of the standard format for a homily and begin with an interactive recitation of the New Covenant taken from our outline of faith (the Catechism) which is found in The Book of Common Prayer page 850.
The New Covenant
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What is the New Covenant? |
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The New Covenant is the new relationship with God |
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What did the Messiah promise in the New Covenant? |
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Christ promised to bring us into the kingdom of God |
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What response did Christ require? |
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Christ commanded us to believe in him and to keep his |
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What are the commandments taught by Christ? |
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Christ taught us the Summary of the Law and gave us |
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What is the Summary of the Law? |
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You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, |
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What is the New Commandment? |
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The New Commandment is that we love one another as |
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Where may we find what Christians believe about |
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What Christians believe about Christ is found in the
The Gospel of Luke chapter 10 verse 27 provides us with the summary of the law. “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and with all your mind: and your neighbor as yourself.”
More importantly this gospel chapter and Jesus’ parable of the good Samaritan goes on to teach us who our neighbor is.
Neighbor is not the person who lives next door or someone who lives just a few houses down the street.
Neighbor, in this parable, is represented by two persons:
The first being the man who remains without identity. Someone who has traveled on a dangerous road, someone who most likely has been beaten and robbed. Someone who is left hurt, without clothing or money; someone who is in need. We don’t know whether this person in need is a friend or foe.
The second is a man from Samaria. For the time of this account, the Samaritan is most likely despised by the Levite, the Samaritan is considered to be a social and religious outcast. Some say the Samaritan is of a different race. Yet the Samaritan, full of compassion, stops to tend to the injured man, pouring wine and oil on his wounds before binding them. Once that is done, the Samaritan brings the injured to a place of safety, pays for his refuge and promises he will repay any additional fees incurred for further care.
This gospel narrative begs me to ask who are my neighbors, who do I meet daily that fits the description of neighbor? How do I respond?
Do I cross the street out of fear to avoid an encounter with the person who appears to be in need, as the Levite did, or do I respond like the Samaritan stopping to tend to the injured, however they may be injured?
Do I remain impartial to what is happening to “the other”?
Do I remain silent?
If out of fear, I remain impartial to what is happening to those in need I am not showing love for my neighbor. If I stop and listen to the plight of my neighbor , if I understand and speak up for what is wrong, then I am being a neighbor. If I become an ally to correct what is wrong, then I am loving my neighbor.
But who are our neighbors?
Our neighbors are: Alton Sterling of Baton Rouge LA, and Philando Castile of Minneapolis MN, both black men who were shot and killed by police.
Our neighbors are also the five Dallas police officers who were killed while protecting the rights of others to demonstrate peaceably.
Our neighbors are the seven Dallas police officers who were injured in that killing spree, the family of Micah Johnson, and the countless family and friends of those who were affected by a crime of hate.
Our neighbors are the 49 people killed at Pulse in Orlando Florida.
Our neighbors may be of a different ethnicity, race, socio-economic class, sexual identity, or religion. As children of God, we are called to show love for them.
Given the tragic events of the last several weeks, this scripture from the Gospel of Luke could not be more important. We are called to set aside our differences, our fears, and our beliefs. We are called to listen to what the other says. We are called to respect one another. We are called by God to love our neighbors
In response to the heart-wrenching events this past week Bishop Laura Ahrens reminded us of our call to participate in God’s Mission. She wrote: |
We have work to do. Participating in God's Mission calls us to build bridges of love, justice, and peace. Grounded in God's love for us and our love for God, we are called to reach out to those around us who are hurting and those in need, extending God's love with ears that seek to listen, words that seek to comfort, touch that seeks to heal and hearts that seek to love. We are called to work of peace and justice, building bridges that connect us where we are still divided by "isms" of prejudice, oppression and difference. Fear cannot build these bridges, but we can -- when we are not trapped by our fears, but rather freed by God to walk in love. May we be about this work today and everyday.
I wonder, do I do enough work extending God’s love, building bridges that connect us with the plight of the other. I wonder what would happen if we all listened, touched hearts, spoke for peace, sought love and then acted.
What would happen if we all worked for justice and peace?
May we pray on these words and act accordingly.
During his address to the Episcopal Church, Presiding Bishop Michael Curry calls us to pray for the Human Family:
The Lord be With You
O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us
through Jesus your Son: Look with compassion on the whole
human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which
infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us;
unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and
confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in
your good time, all nations and races may serve you in
harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ
our Lord. Amen.