Loving Thy Neighbor

In the Gospel for Sunday, October 31, Mark reminds us of Jesus’ Commandment to “love thy neighbor as thyself.” Mister Rogers made loving one’s neighbor sound as easy as throwing on an old cardigan and saying “Won’t you be my neighbor?” Is it really that easy?

If I define my neighbor as a fellow parishioner or the family that lives next door, then I’m filled with goodwill. But I believe Jesus wants us to expand the definition of neighbor beyond our comfort zone. When I encounter a stranger who doesn’t share my ethnicity or my religion, I often lapse into stereotypical thinking. Suddenly and often unconsciously my fears are activated and a blameless person seems threatening.

I’m ashamed of the time my racial prejudice almost got me in trouble. I was attending a conference in Minneapolis and in charge of a table of items for sale. Out of the blue, an African-American woman I didn’t recognize as part of “my” event entered and began browsing. I’m ashamed to say that I caught myself thinking that she was certainly intent on shoplifting. Fortunately, I didn’t call a security guard. Instead, I had to admit that in that moment of unconscious prejudice, I was guilty of racial stereotyping. I gave myself a stern talking to and decided to go up to the woman and introduce myself. I learned that she was an accountant attending another professional conference in the same hotel. A stranger suddenly became a neighbor.

I am reminded of a favorite Leon Russell song with a line that goes “Treat every passing stranger as brother for he may be the Prince of Peace returning.” A good reminder!

We know that Jesus loved and cared for those his culture rejected and distained. I pray that I will do the same.

Gratefully,

Victoria Kline, Pastoral Council President