The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity [1] This year, the Holy Spirit offers as a reason for reflection the above-mentioned phrase, whose origin is found in the Old Testament (Deut 6:45; Lev 19:18). On his way to Jerusalem, Jesus is stopped by a lawyer who asks him: "Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" (Lk 10:25). This opens a dialogue, and Jesus responds by asking: "What is written in the Law?" (Lk 10:26), which prompts the following response from his interlocutor: love of God and love of neighbor together are considered the synthesis of the Law and the Prophets.
"You shall love the Lord your God… and your neighbor as yourself"
"And who is my neighbor?" the lawyer continues. The Master answers by recounting the parable of the Good Samaritan. He doesn't list the different types of people who can represent our neighbor, but rather describes the attitude of profound compassion that should animate every action we take. It is we ourselves who must become neighbors to others.
The question we must ask ourselves is: "And who am I a neighbor to?"
Just as the Samaritan did, we must care for our brothers and sisters whose needs we recognize, allowing ourselves to be drawn into the depths of the situations that arise, without any fear, with a love that strives to help, support, and encourage everyone.
It's necessary to see in the other person another self, and do to the other person what we would do to ourselves. This is what is called the "golden rule," which we find in all religions. Gandhi explains it effectively: "You and I are one. I cannot hurt you without hurting myself."[2]
"You shall love the Lord your God… and your neighbor as yourself"
"If we remain indifferent or resigned to the needs of our neighbor, whether in their material or spiritual needs, we cannot say that we love our neighbor as ourselves. We cannot say that we love them as Jesus loved them. In a community that wants to be inspired by the love that Jesus taught us, there can be no room for inequalities, disparities, marginalization, or neglect. […] As long as we see our neighbor as a stranger, someone who disturbs our peace or thwarts our plans, we cannot say that we love God with all our hearts." [3]
"You shall love the Lord your God… and your neighbor as yourself"
Life is what happens to you in the present moment. Noticing who passes by us and knowing how to listen to others can open up interesting horizons and spark unexpected initiatives.
This is what happened to Victoria:
In church, I was struck by the beautiful voice of an African woman sitting next to me. It made me happy and I encouraged her to join the parish choir. We stopped to talk. She's a nun from Equatorial Guinea passing through Madrid. Her congregation takes in newborns and abandoned children and guides them to adulthood through university studies or by teaching them a trade. Her tailoring workshop is well-equipped, but there aren't enough sewing machines.
I offer to help her find more machines, trusting in Jesus, certain that he listens to us and pushes me to love without hesitation.
A friend of mine meets a craftsman who is happy to participate in this chain of love. He repairs eight sewing machines and also finds an ironing machine. A couple of friends offer to take them to Madrid, changing their vacation spot and traveling almost 1,000 kilometers. Thus, the "machines of hope" reach Malabo after a long journey by land and sea. In Guinea, they can't believe it! Their messages show their deep gratitude.
Patrizia Mazzola and the Word of Life team
[1] This prayer is celebrated throughout the northern hemisphere from January 18 to 25, and in the southern hemisphere, during the week of Pentecost. This year's prayer texts were prepared by an ecumenical team from Burkina Faso.
[2]C. Lubich, The Art of Loving, Ciudad Nueva, Madrid 2006, p. 19.
[3] C. LUBICH, Word of life, November 1985, in EAD., Words of life/1 (1943-1990) (ed. F. Ciardi), Ciudad Nueva, Madrid 2020, pp. 357-358.
