The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

Day 3—Saturday 20th January 2024

“Who is my neighbour?” (Luke 10: 29)

Lord, open our hearts to those we do not see.

Additional scripture passages

Romans 13: 8-10 Psalm 119: 57-63

Reflection

The teacher of the law wanted to justify himself, hoping that the neighbour he is called to love is one of his own faith and people. This is a natural human instinct. We prefer places of familiarity. This can also be true of our church communities.

But Jesus takes the lawyer, and his wider audience, deeper into their own tradition by reminding them of the obligation to welcome and love all, regardless of religion, culture or social status.

The Gospel teaches that loving those who are like ourselves is nothing special. Jesus steers us towards a much more radical version of what it means to be human. The parable illustrates in a very visible way what Christ expects from us – to open wide our hearts and walk in his way, loving others as he loves us.

In fact, Jesus answers the lawyer with another question: it is not “who is my neighbour?”, but “who was a neighbour to the man in need?”

We pray for

Greenmount URC.

St Paul’s Church, Ramsbottom.

Our outreach to the elderly and our local care homes.

Those who find it difficult to integrate into society.

We pray together

God of love, who writes love in our hearts,

Instil in us the courage to look beyond ourselves and to be the unexpected neighbour.

Amen

Question

Who are the people who are excluded within your community and why?

Go and do

Think of a person you have never really thought of as your neighbour?

How can you be a neighbour to them in a practical way?