By Diana Hansen of Gilbert, Arizona, USA

How very good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity!

Loving our neighbor is foundational to Christian discipleship. We might question who our neighbors are, the type of love Jesus meant, and whether all neighbors should be loved equally. Yet the call to love God with devotion and love each other unselfishly remains certain. Loving God and our neighbor is Christ-like.

During my early thirties, repressed childhood memories began to disrupt my life at work, church, and with family and friends. I was overcome by fear, helplessness, shame, and despair. My life fell apart. Yet through these years, neighbors like those Jesus spoke of were present. Their love, compassion, and charity ministered to me deeply. When the path was too dark for human companionship, God’s infinite grace comforted me. Even in my darkest hours, I was not alone. Through personal effort, time, and the love of several good neighbors, open wounds healed into scars, and I became changed—new.

This experience taught me that the good news within the commandment to love our neighbor is more fully revealed when others are viewed as God sees them—as divinely beloved. No one, myself included, is easy to love or be around when life is falling apart. Can we be mutually courageous and present through someone else’s storm? Can our hope help light the way for someone else’s darkness? Is our belief in others as “God’s beloved” strong enough to forgive what seems unforgivable while still upholding accountability?

Christianity is not a solitary endeavor; rather it is a communal pursuit for the benefit of all creation. Therefore, loving our neighbor is foundational to our Christian discipleship. It is how we give Christ’s mission life here, now, today.

Prayer Phrase

“…my God turns my darkness into light” (Psalm 18:28).

Spiritual Practice

Light

Close your eyes and become centered with your breath. As you breathe gently in and out, reflect on the statement, “The light of God is in all things.” The light has a bright, soft beauty and radiates God’s healing love. The light of God reaches you and permeates you with a deep sense of peace. Rest in the light as it surrounds and fills you. Thank God that you live in God’s light, and it lives in you.

Today’s Prayer for Peace

Engage in a daily practice of praying for peace in our world. Click here to read today’s prayer and be part of this practice of peace.