In my wonderful city of residence, we recently launched a 5-week series of “Meet Your Neighbor” nights designed to embrace the diversity of faiths we have here.
Opening night was last week with Rabbi Dennis Sasso giving us a brief lesson on Judaism and then patiently answering some very tough questions from the crowd that was filled with Christians, Muslims and at least one from the Sikh faith tradition.
In future gatherings, we will explore the Muslim faith, Sikhs, Hindu and the many forms of Christian worship.
The programs are part of a joint effort of groups that I am active in – a local “Carmel Interfaith Alliance” and the “Mayor’s Advisory Commission on Human Rights.”
We have a reason for doing this – a reason that extends beyond today’s readings, as appropriate they may be.
Over the past year, our community has been rocked by a couple of events. Last year, the local Islamic population petitioned our zoning board for permission to build the City’s first mosque. What followed was a great deal of conversation – most of it constructive and respectful, but not all. Neighbors objected. The matter remains in court.
Then, earlier this year, a young and troubled pair of kids drove many miles from the western part of our state in order to paint a swastika on one of our local Jewish synagogue’s outdoor structures … then tried to set it on fire.
That, too, prompted a lot of soul-searching among our community, but it was also very heartwarming to see news coverage of an incredible amount of goodwill and support by local residents of all cultures, faiths and backgrounds toward the victims of this senseless and hurtful vandalism.
This comes to mind as I read today’s Gospel on how we should treat our neighbors … especially “them,” by which I refer to those who look different, act different or worship different than ourselves.
Today’s Gospel says: “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind … and your neighbor as yourself.”
But the Lord is asked: “And who is my neighbor?”
That got me thinking about current events and the way we respond to instances of hatred and discrimination. I am happy to say that in most cases, Americans seem to live by the golden rule. But there are still some instances where that is not true – and of course, they get the biggest headlines.
I’ve been blessed to have some encounters with my neighbors. And I suppose to anyone who tries to be a good Christian, a good Catholic, good Jew, Muslim or simply a good person, it’s not that difficult to be kind to those who cross your path.
Never forget that children are born with nothing but love in their hearts. They learn – through a variety of messages – how to hate others or be suspicious of those who do not share their own faith, traditions or the color of their skin.
We are too quick, as a society, to judge entire nations, cultures and faiths based on the actions of a few who may belong to those entities. Think about the last time someone who calls themselves Christian carried out an evil plot or horrible act of violence. Think about how you cringed when you heard that “all Christians must be evil.”
Now … think about how you speak in front of your children whenever the topic of terrorism comes up in conversation. Do you condemn an entire faith because of these kinds of events?
Parents, teachers, the media and our church leaders must all be on guard to stop painting with broad strokes of judgement every time something bad happens in the world. We are called to forgive … to seek to understand … to love … and to get along with all of our neighbors.
Jesus is challenging us today to love not just our own neighbors, but those neighbors we cannot see. These are the neighbors who live in other cities, other states, other parts of the world. They are those who line up for food, water, shelter or medical care in lands that we will never visit. We may not have the chance to cross paths with them. We may never get to be their “Good Samaritan.”
At least not in person.
But this is where the global Church comes into play.
Think about those coins, dollars and church envelopes you drop into the basket on Sunday mornings. Think about your donations made to your local parish and diocese. Or maybe the check you wrote to Catholic Charities last year.
The Church is everywhere.
In many cases, it is the Church that provides the loving care for our “invisible neighbors” around the world, thanks to the tithing that we do on a regular basis.
I realize it can be much more powerful and spiritually uplifting to interact with those that we are given the opportunity to love.
But let us not ever forget those invisible neighbors of ours who depend on the loving care of Mother Church for things that most of us take for granted.
They, too, need to be loved as much as we love ourselves.
And whenever we are given the opportunity … we need to show mercy to those who are otherwise condemned by the rest of the world.
We must do what is right in the eyes of God … not what we think others would want us to do.
