“I’ve always wanted to live in a neighborhood with you!” –Fred Rogers
“Where is God?” and the Neighborhood: Neighborhood comes from the Old English “near dweller” common to families/clans/tribes. Today, the more modern understanding involves a place to abide where people have things in common. “All world religions make neighbors the central concern of spirituality and ethics.” (197) The Golden Rule inherent in every faith essentially is an explanation of how to get along with our neighbors.
“The New Neighborhood”: The sense of neighborhood has transformed in the 21st century of multiple layers of geographical and virtual communication, bringing a sense of interdependence and connection, even if it is somewhat fragile, but the question remains: do people actually FEEL the connection? It is simultaneously easier and harder to KNOW our neighbors.
“Who Is My Neighbor?”: Lawyer asks, “How do I inherit eternal life?” Jesus responds with a question, “What’s written in the law?’’ Lawyer replies with two great commandments, which Jesus affirms, and then the lawyer follows up with THE question: Who is my neighbor? And we have the Parable of the Good Samaritan and the answer, “the one who showed him mercy.” Showing care and hospitality to others is both ethical and practical.
“Tribes and Clans”: Neighborhoods/tribes change, and people seek “like-mindedness”. This is not always negative: indeed, it helps to remember that tribe carries with it a rich source of history, identity, and solidarity. (212) However, we do need to guard against exclusivity and superiority, even as we come together for common purpose. (The Episcopal Church welcomes you.) Human beings are tribal people. The brain is a pattern-seeking device.
“The Fence”: “Mending Wall”…”good fences make good neighbors” but fences need gates that can be opened.
“The Hospitable Tribe”: Most religions originate as tribal stories: the tribe’s god protected their tribe uniquely. Between 1000-200 BCE, a shift occurred from local gods to a universal God of the Hebrew Bible, and so the story of hospitality became central to Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Abraham radically welcomed 3 strangers to his tents in Mamre who turned out to be messengers of God, proclaiming Abraham to become the father of multitudes. The 3 left and went to his nephew Lot in Sodom, who also receives them and protects them from his evil neighbors; Lot and his family are saved from the wrath God inflicts on Sodom. And here religion begins its struggle: Does God bless only our tribe or does God welcome all people into the tent?
“When hostility is converted into hospitality, then fearful strangers can become guests. The term hospitality therefore should not be limited to its literal sense of receiving a stranger in our house, but as a fundamental attitude toward our fellow human beings, which can be expressed in a great variety of ways. “ Henri Nouwan
“Practicing Empathy”: “Empathy for one’s enemies is what we call smart power—using every possible tool and partner to advance peace and security, leaving no one on the sidelines, showing respect, even for one’s enemies, trying to understand and insofar as psychologically possible empathize with their perspective and point of view, helping to define the problems, determine the solutions. That is what we believe in the 21st century will change—change the prospect for peace.” (Hillary Clinton). But it is hard to do. Martin Buber suggests a shift from seeing our enemies as objects (I-it) to subjects (I-thou). Perhaps if we can see through the eyes of innocence, that might be possible. To accomplish this, we need to share our stories with one another, to walk with one another, to commune with one another, and to recognize the God within one another. That kindness can come from Grace.
Grace Episcopal Church 