25.1.17 Neighbors

Dear Friends of Sacred Ground,

The world needs neighbors right now.

I love how in the parable of the Good Samaritan Jesus turned the question "Who is my neighbor?" into "Who was the neighbor? Go be a neighbor."

What does that mean for you? For me? Today? In this time that we are in?

Sacred Ground faculty member, Susan Stabile reminded me at lunch this week that, "As people formed by Ignatian Spirituality, the question for us is always the same: Given my gifts and my passions and in light of the state and needs of the world around me: How am I being called to co-labor with Christ in building Kingdom? My gifts and talent, my passions, the state and needs of the world all contribute to my prayerfully discerning with God how to answer that question."  

Another way to ask that question might be the refrain from Father Matt Linn, SJ that we heard throughout our time in Sacred Ground's Spiritual Direction Formation Program: "How am I able to best give and receive love today?" 

Maybe we can also ask: "How am I called to be a good neighbor today?"

These questions can serve as touchstones, steadying us in uncertain times. 

In his book Strength to Love, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. explores the Good Samaritan parable and "the call for a worldwide good-neighbor policy" as a "call to a way of life which will transform our imminent cosmic elegy into a psalm of creative fulfillment." He writes: "The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy. The true neighbor will risk his position, his prestige, and even his life for the welfare of others." The world needed good neighbors when he wrote these words. The world needs good neighbors today.

May we be good neighbors today, tomorrow, and in the days ahead.

With blessings and gratitude,

Jessica Sanborn

Program Coordinator