I have a problem with that scripture, he said. He is a longtime member of my church who probably knows the bible better than most. The scripture was, of all things, the Great Commandment.

You shall love the Lord your God, with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself. (Luke 10:25-27)

You have a problem with the Great Commandment? I said rather incredulously. Yes, I do, he said. It's that word neighbor. People don't understand who their neighbor is. Their neighbor is Anyone. And Everyone.

His problem was not with the scripture. His problem was with how poorly we live it. Two days after we lit a Candle for Peace in worship, it's good to think about the word neighbor in its largest sense.

Mitch Albom writes in "have a little faith": I'm in my religious high school, and the subject is the parting of the Red Sea. I yawn. Heard it before a million times. But as the story unfolds, I begin to pay attention.

After the Israelites safely crossed the Red Sea, the Egyptians chased after them and were drowned. God's angels wanted to celebrate the enemy's demise... God saw this and grew angry. He said, in essence: Stop celebrating. For those were my children, too.

Those were my children too.

Who is your neighbor? Anyone. Everyone. Who among your neighbors is the most difficult for you to love?

He. She. They. God's children all.

Blessings,

Pastor Kris