“It is a sin to despise one’s neighbor, but blessed is the one who is kind to the needy.”  Proverbs 14:21

“When you have done all that you were ordered to do, say “We are worthless slaves; we have done only what we ought to have done!”  Luke 17:10

Following the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr in 1968, Jane Elliot, Rice IA, felt compelled to teach her 3rd grade students about prejudice.  One day students with brown eyes were treated as superior, and those with blue eyes were shunned.  The next day, vice versa.  These young people learned how to act and feel privileged, but also how it feels to be treated as lesser human beings, simply because they looked different from their peers.  We need more Janes!  We still haven’t learned.

“Who is my neighbor?”  It seems we are still asking.  It seems we still aren’t listening to Jesus’ answer.  It seems we are still deciding for ourselves just whom we will love or not love.  “I don’t hate them; I just don’t want them in my neighborhood.”  “I like their food; but they’re probably all illegal.”  “I’m sorry they’re poor, but why don’t they just get a job?”  Jesus ate with the unpopular, befriended a woman from a marginalized and mistrusted people, told a story about caring for even our enemies.

To paraphrase a common idiom:  [Preach the love of Jesus.  Use words if necessary.] Our actions, how we treat other people, our day-to-lives, are living “sermons”.  We live the love of Christ … or not.

God of love, reconciliation and peace, help us love others as we ourselves need to be loved; and to recognize everyone as one of your beloved children.  Amen

Verla Olson

Ministries
Teaching Mission Party