Who is my neighbour?

Who is my neighbour?

Published by DIAKONIA COUNCIL OF CHURCHESDiakonia Centre, 20 Diakonia Avenue, Durban 4001POBox 61341, Bishopsgate 4008Phone: 031 310-3500Fax: 031 310-3502E-mail: the.director@diakonia.org.zaWebsite: www.diakonia.org.za

Good Friday 2008

Designed & produced by Graphicos

Who is my neighbour?

Serving our neighbour through localchurches is the core activity of the

Diakonia Council of Churches.

Only once we understand andaccept the depth of this question can

we really respond to the call toserve our neighbour – and allow

them to serve us. 5

When asked which commandment was the first ofall, Jesus quoted the ancient law from the OldTestament: “You shall love the Lord your God ....You shall love your neighbour as yourself. Thereis no other commandment greater than these”Mark 12:29/31

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But who is my neighbour?

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We find you, Lord, in others’ need, we see you inour neighbour ...

And what we do, we do to you, incarnate in ourneighbour. Giles Ambrose

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Do we avoid our neighbours by going to church?

Jesus said: “Truly I tell you, just as you did it toone of the least of these who are members of myfamily you did it to me.” Matthew 25:40

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Who is my neighbour? Who is my family?

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“I’m 14 and I look after my four younger sistersand brothers. I go out on the street, and men takeme to do what they want with me, and then payme. I can buy food and school things for myfamily.” Diakonia 2008 Good Friday Service.

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Am I your neighbour?

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How can I work for economic andenvironmental justice so that, as Iwelcome the poor and the sick asmy neighbour, I am also workingto change their conditions?

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In his fellow human beings, Jesussaw not sin and guilt butbrokenness, confusion, and fear.The people whom the scribes andPharisees called sinners, Jesus sawas the sick who needed a doctor.Nolan: ‘Jesus today’

So – what we do to our neighbour, we do toourselves?

The universe is one interconnected whole. We arenot separate and independent parts. Nolan: ‘Jesus today’

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When I needed a neighbour, were you there, were you there? I was hungry and thirsty..... Iwas cold, I was naked .....When I needed ashelter, were you there, were you there?

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Wherever you travel, I'll be there, I'll be there.And the creed and the colour and the name won'tmatter, I'll be there.

Will you?

Jesus said: “Go and do likewise.”

Am I a neighbour to those battered and injuredby life?

Jesus said: “Which of these three, do you think,was a neighbour to the man who fell into thehands of the robbers?” The lawyer said: “The onewho showed him mercy.”

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Is my neighbour the mother with HIV prayingthat her children are not affected?

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How do I respond to this neighbour in need?

When she needed a neighbour, was I there?

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Jesus said: “You have heard that it was said, 'Youshall love your neighbour and hate your enemy.But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray forthose who persecute you.” Matthew 5:43/44

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In what ways do I show love to my enemies?

How do I treat my enemy when my enemy isnow my neighbour?

Jesus practiced what he preached: he loved hisenemies. Nolan: ‘Jesus today’

Yet we often find it hard to love our neighbour.

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Perhaps then I would findout how my neighbour feels.

Can I wear the shoes of my neighbour who isvery different from me, or who shocks me, just forone day?

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Jesus spirituality is largely about how we relateto people – loving our neighbour. Even ourrelation to God is most often experienced in ourattitude to people. Nolan: ‘Jesus today’

Does this mean that my harsh and critical wordsto my neighbours reflects my relatinship withGod?

Is it that obvious?

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Jesus said: “One who knowseverything else but does notknow him/herself, knowsnothing.” Gospel of Thomas 67

Jesus goes to the heart of thematter. Nolan: ‘Jesus today’

Jesus said: “Why do you see the speck in yourneighbour‘s eye, but do not notice the log in yourown eye? ... You hypocrite, first take the log outof your own eye, and then you will see clearly totake the speck out of your neighbour‘s eye.”Luke 6:41–42

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Few things made Jesus as angry as a total lack ofgratitude and appreciation. This we see in hisparable about the unforgiving servant...... Such a refusal to forgive demonstrates a quiteunbelievable ungratefulness to God who has beenso good to all of us. Nolan: ‘Jesus today’

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In what ways do I show forgiveness to myneighbours?

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Are the oppressed, theorphans, the widow, myneighbours?

What does that mean for me?What does that mean for mychurch?

Cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice,rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, pleadfor the widow. Isaiah 1:16

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Can I clear away my own prejudices from myheart and mind, my eyes, my ears – and reallylisten to my neighbour?

Jesus said: “I came that they may have life, andhave it abundantly.” John 10:10b

What difficulties and obstacles to a full life do Iput in the way of my neighbour?

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Where is my neighbourhood?

Do I know the people who live there?

Do I even want to know them?

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Lord, overwhelm mewith your love,so that I am no longerafraid to love myneighbour.

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‘Diakonia’ – service to our neighbours – involvesboth giving and receiving. For many it seems tobe easier to give than to receive.

How can I be free to allow others to beneighbours to me?

Who is my neighbour?

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May God bless you with discomfort at easyanswers, half truths and superficial relationships,so that you may live deep within your heart.St Francis of Assisi

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Who is my neighbour?

How can I love my neighbour as myself?

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