Love your neighbour as yourself

 

  The Luke 11:9 series: Love your neighbour as yourself

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The Greatest Commandment 

When asked about the greatest commandment, Jesus responds by quoting from Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18: "Love God with all your heart, soul, and mind. Love your neighbour as yourself."

Jesus said that these two commandments sum up all the law and the prophets. The command to love your neighbour is central to the Christian life; this means treating others with the same care, kindness, respect, and compassion that you would want for yourself. In the parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus expands our understanding of a neighbour beyond the traditional limit of proximity or human bonds to anyone we can show love, kindness, and mercy, even those who may be part of a different background, ethnicity, social or religious group.

"This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this than to lay down one’s life for his friends. You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. These things I command you, that you love one another. [John 15:12-17] 

The Greek word ‘Agape’ (ἀγάπη) refers to unconditional, selfless, sacrificial love—the kind of love that God shows to humanity and that believers are called to show to one another. 

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but so that the world might be saved through him." [John 3:16-17]

Jesus willingly laid down his life for us following the wishes of his Father. This we know from John 10:17-18: “Therefore My Father loves Me because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down for Myself. I have the power to lay it down, and I have the power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.” 

The Parable of the Good Samaritan

In this well-known story of the Good Samaritan [Luke 10:25-37], Jesus defines a neighbour as any human requiring help. A lawyer asks Jesus, "Who is my neighbour?" and Jesus responds with the Parable of the Good Samaritan. In the story, a man, presumably a brethren Jew, is beaten, robbed, stripped of his clothes and belongings, and left for dead on the roadside. A Rabbi and a Levite (priestly Jew) both pass by without helping. A Samaritan (a group deeply despised by Jews at the time for being religiously heretical and ethnically impure) stops to help the wounded man, showing compassion and mercy by disinfecting and bandaging the wounds of the stranger, lifting him on his donkey to set him up in comfort for the night at an inn, paying the innkeeper and asking him to offer any further assistance as required, promising to pick up the charge on his way back. This Samaritan, a stranger, is the epitome of a good Christian.

Love one another as I have loved you

Jesus said, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this, all will know that you are My disciples if you have love for one another.” [John 13:34-35]

The Hebrew word ‘Chesed’ (חֶסֶד)  refers to the loyal, covenantal love—the unconditional love God shows to His people. A covenant is not like an agreement; an agreement between two parties can be broken by either party, especially if one of the parties fails to meet the conditions of the agreement; a covenant is more binding and implies a deep, committed unconditional love that involves mercy, kindness, and loyalty, even when the other fails to meet their side of the bargain. Covenantal love therefore refers to the kind of unconditional love that is faithful, long-suffering, and active in caring for others' needs.

Once we look past the abraded exterior of the migrant, the stranger, and the outcast, we discover the glorious interior resplendent with unique talents that have been stifled, creativity that has been snuffed, and dreams that have been denied. Unconditional love like long-awaited desert rains can unleash a superbloom ... are you willing to be that good Samaritan who can change a person's life with a kind gesture?

Love your enemies

Jesus pushes the envelope even further saying, 'I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. To him who strikes you on the one cheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back. And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise. “But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back. But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful. “Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”' [Luke 6:27-38]

In the Epistle of James the Just, we are told that words of empathy ring empty, if we do not follow through with comparable actions of mercy, 'For judgment, is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment. What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit?' [James 2:13-18]

Some practical ways to love your neighbour as yourself

Scripture doesn't mean much unless we live by it. Here are some ways to love your neighbour as yourself

1. Listen With Empathy: Take the time to truly listen to people, seeking to understand their struggles, joys, and needs. Empathy means putting yourself in their shoes, listening attentively instead of waiting to interject with your own point of view; choose instead to respond with genuine sympathy, care and compassion.
2. Comfort Those Who Suffer: Be present with those who are grieving, lonely, sick, or going through hard times. Show up for them in their pain, whether by offering a word of encouragement, a prayer, or simply your presence. Recognise that sometimes words might be unnecessary, even jarring.
3. Acts of Kindness: Small, everyday selfless acts of random kindness, especially to those that least expect it, can make a huge difference in someone's day and even life. Smile, hold the door open for someone or let them go ahead of you in the line, offer an ear and a kind word, help someone with a task they find difficult or anonymously pay their grocery, medical or restaurant bill. 
4. Volunteer Your Time And Talent: Many people have needs — physical, emotional, or spiritual — that can be met through volunteer work. Whether it's visiting those in hospitals and prisons, serving at a food bank, helping at a homeless shelter, or tutoring children, volunteering is a way to give back to your community and demonstrate Christ’s love. [Matthew 25:32-45]
5. Practice Forgiveness: Jesus taught that forgiveness is essential to loving others. Let go of grudges, even when it’s hard, and seek to unconditionally love and even reconcile with others rather than harbour ill will and resentment. [Matthew 6:14-15]
6. Seek Peace: Strive to be a peacemaker in relationships; avoid gossip and rumour-mongering. When conflicts arise, pray for peace, approach the issue with humility, not pride, and earnestly desire to heal divisions without demanding recognition or recompense [Matthew 5:3-9]
7. Don’t Judge Or Condemn Others: It's easy to criticise and judge people for their flaws, shortcomings and mistakes, but Jesus calls his followers to be mindful of their own flaws which Our ever-loving and merciful God overlooks and forgives. [Matthew 7:1-5, John 8:1-11]
8. Love the "Unlovable": Loving people who are difficult to love (the leper, convict, sinner, orphan and widow) or someone who may not treat you well is an important part of loving your neighbour and the ultimate test of Christian love [Matthew 5:44-48]
9. Stand For The Outcast, The Oppressed and The Voiceless: Loving your neighbour involves working for the well-being of those who are marginalized, oppressed, or voiceless. Christians are called to be advocates for social justice and to care for the poor, the homeless, the widow, the orphan, the migrant, and the stranger [James 1:22-27]
10. Fight For Righteousness: Sometimes loving your neighbour requires standing up for what is right, even when it’s uncomfortable. This might involve speaking out against injustice, intolerance, racism, casteism, misogyny, homophobia, xenophobia and inequality; or advocating and supporting policies and actions that protect the vulnerable - this is the will of God the Father and your reward will be great in Heaven. [Philippians 2:5-11, Matthew 5:6]
11. Serve with a Humble Heart: True love doesn’t seek recognition or praise. Whether offering help behind the scenes or caring for others without expecting anything in return, humility in service reflects Christ’s example. [Matthew 6:1-4]
12. Include Those Who Are Different: As we see in the Parable of the Good Samaritan, true love transcends differences in culture, background, and beliefs. A Christian attitude of inclusiveness means seeking to build relationships with people from diverse walks of life and showing respect for their dignity as individuals made in the image of God. [Luke 10:25-37]
13. Pray for Others: Interceding for others in prayer is a powerful way to love them. Pray for their well-being, health, happiness, and success. Praying for your enemies can transform your heart toward them [Matthew 5:43-47]
14. Spread the Gospel, The Good News of God's Merciful Love: Loving your neighbour involves sharing the good news of the Gospel with them, not out of a sense of duty or superiority, but because of a deep desire for others to experience the love and grace you have found in Christ. [Matthew 28:19-20, Luke 4:18-19]

Footnote

This series of posts, which I call, 'The Luke 11:9 Series', is an attempt to verbalise various aspects of my Catholic faith as revealed in Scripture; topics include Destination Heaven; Golden ticket; God's Grace; Seeds of Love; Mary, did you know?; Feel the love of God; Love your neighbour as yourself, The Good Shepherd; Receive the Sacraments often; Eucharistic Adoration; Communion of Saints; How to pray; Role-playing Scripture; Mary, Help of Christians; Understanding suffering; Forgiveness; Gratitude, the life-changing attitude; Life after death; One Body of Christ; and Hearts ablaze. I sincerely hope it helps you in your faith journey. Always turn to the Holy Spirit when you search for answers to your questions, because Luke 11:9 says, "So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you."