Jesus tells us to begin “promoting healing and wholeness in the church, the society and the world”* by loving our neighbor as we love ourselves.
Our neighbors are Muslim, Jewish, Hindu and Christian. Our neighbors are Black, Asian, African, Latino, Middle Eastern and European. Our neighbors are straight, gay, trans and questioning. Our neighbors are Republicans, Democrats and Independents. Everyone is our neighbor, and Jesus has clearly instructed us to love our neighbors.
What does neighbor-love look like? Jesus tells us that, too. If we see someone hungry, we are to feed them. If someone needs clothing, we give them clothes. We will speak out against acts of bias and hate. We will address sexist, misogynist, racist, anti–Semitic, anti–Muslim and anti–LBGTQ actions and comments.
Some of us will do this critical work within our own families or workplaces. Others of us will do this work in schools and businesses. Some of us will confront politicians, whether local, state or national. Many of us will pray for our sisters, as together we support each other in our callings.
This message is an excerpt from “Lenten healing, wholeness,” the Grace Notes column by Linda Post Bushkofsky in the March 2017 issue of Gather magazine.
*Women of the ELCA Purpose Statement
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