Love thy Neighbour

For such a small word, it carries a lot of weight when used. Yet it tends to be one of the most carelessly tossed-around words. It’s almost become part of casual conversation to say “I love you” to someone. You can watch strangers on apps embrace each other, having never met before or not knowing much about each other, and repeat “I love you” to each other.

All that aside, love is typically a word used to express our deep affection for the people with whom we have close relationships. Not just our biological families but often our chosen families as well. We don’t tell random strangers that we love them, not even our neighbours who we may have lived beside for many, many years.

The gospel, however, calls us to a task that goes beyond any of these norms and any of our earthly understanding of what it means to love.

Luke Chapter 10 vs 25-37                

^“ On one occasion, an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?” He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.^]” “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.” But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. ³¹ A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. ³² So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. ³³ But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. ³⁴ He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. ³⁵ The next day he took out two denarii^[c] and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’ “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

Jesus here is calling us to go beyond those with whom we have things in common, those who can help us, those who can reciprocate. He’s calling us to love our neighbors and not just the ones who fit the dictionary definition because they live close by. He’s calling us to love those who cannot return this love, those who won’t understand it, those from outside our cultural and familiar environments. This love will cost us - at times. Much like the Samaritan, it may mean tending to those who cannot return the favor, some never will, spending your own money or time to ensure that person’s well-being, even ensuring that their future needs are met “I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have”.

This is extreme by any standard today, however, it’s the call of the gospel. Love your neighbor. Love them enough to tell them the ultimate truth of the gospel. Christ loves us all and gave his life for all of us, even though none of us were deserving and could do nothing to gain this love.