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I recently came across a new book published in Germany about World War II.
We have all wondered so many times, how could it all happen?
While the book focuses on dark times in German history, disrespect, and hatred against the so-called “others” – it seems to me, such attitudes and messages of hate, of building up walls of segregation, are becoming prevalent again. People and nations are drifting apart from one another.
Jesus has another message for us: “Love your neighbor as yourself!” And even if my neighbor is hostile to me, whether he or she speaks a different language, is of a different origin, has a different skin color, embraces different religious convictions: they are my neighbor, we are members of one family of human beings, all created in the image of God.
In Philippians 2:3-4 and 1 John 4:7-12 St. Paul makes the provocative statement that the Christians in Philippi should exercise “humility” and “regard others as better than yourselves.” Christians, he points out, should not “look to your own interests, but to the interests of others (Phil. 2:3f.).” And he adds that Jesus Christ himself has set such a model that focuses on love, compassion, mindfulness and care for our neighbors.
While people drift apart today, and cynical contempt of “others” is on the rise in societies around the world, and wars are waged, and societies struggle to maintain and further develop unity and build up trust among people, we should remember the teaching of Jesus. Christ wants us to look at our neighbors, to appreciate their presence, to embrace them and build fellowship with them.
Christian obligation and commitment
May the Lenten season invite us to think afresh about our Christian obligation and commitment in respect to our neighbors. Our calling is not to distance ourselves from others; in fact, the opposite is true: Christian life is not lived in splendid isolation, locked up behind church doors, or by distancing ourselves from the lives of others, our neighbors.
To cherish Christian community, then celebrate the liturgy and pray in church is fine and it nourishes our Christian life. However, when we open the church door, we see people out there, neighbors, fellow human beings who need our attention, not seldom our support, our solidarity, and our compassion. One cannot be close to God, if one does not at the same time seek to get close to one’s neighbor. Closer to our neighbor, is part of our calling as Christians.
In the New Testament, it is not an option whether we would like to move closer to our neighbors, seeking to build up fellowship or not. Disregard of our neighbor is disregard of God: it is moving away from God. “Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love (1. John 4:8).” Love, therefore, is not only our calling, but also our being, it is the essence of our Christian existence in the world.
And I should remember that anybody can become my neighbor, and that I am a neighbor to those who need me most: who need my attention, help, support, and solidarity. Moreover, loving my neighbor is not simply an emotion, a sentimental feeling. In the Bible, love is very practical. In biblical teaching love relates to action, it leads to very concrete solidarity, to very concrete help on behalf of others.
The season of Lent, a time when we meditate on repentance and renewal, will draw us closer to God. And God, who is love, will draw us closer to our neighbor. When we open our eyes from prayer, we see people out there. So let us seek fellowship with them.
