Rev. Ray and Pat Amos
LORD, WHO IS MY NEIGHBOR
“And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.”
“Mark 12:31”
I never know what to expect when the phone rings. It will be laughter or tears, or somewhere in between. I remember the day when I answered the phone and heard, “Preacher, Could I ask a favor of you?” Those were the words of a cemetery caretaker. He went on to say that he was getting ready to bury a man who had no one to even say a prayer for him. “I’m on my way,” I replied.
The man had lived in the community, yet it seemed that no one knew him. “He lived among us, and we knew him not.” He died alone, and was being buried that way. How does that happen?
Most of us are blessed to have people who love and care about us. When we are in need there are those who will support and pray for us. Then, there are others who have no one to care. They suffer the same things that others do, except alone, and their names are not spoken in anyone’s prayers.
“Lord, who is my neighbor?” The man who asked Jesus that question had wealth and friends. The neighborhood he lived in might provide comfortable answers to his question, but neighbors live beyond community boundaries. Jesus did not answer the question directly. He wanted the man to realize that the greater question wasn’t “who is my neighbor,” but am I a neighbor to the one who needs a friend?
There are those who understand the words of the song that says the world can seem cold and our friends seem few. May they also be able to know the rest of the song; that we have “Someone to care someone to share all your troubles like no other can do.” That person is Jesus, and He may choose to do his caring through us.
Do you realize that there are some people who cannot seem to pray for themselves and some who do not even know that they can? There are many who have never had their name lifted in anyone’s prayer. Is there such a person that you would be willing to intercede in prayer for?
None of us can help everyone, but all of us can help someone.
Grace and Peace, Rev Ray
Link to YouTube Video – Love God, Love Your Neighbor
