Between us and you a great chasm has been set in place, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.
[Adapted from Andrew Bolton, “Grounds for Peace—Dehumanization Yesterday and Today: How to Act as Neighbour,” 2021, in Project Zion podcast]
Jesus said there were two great commandments. Sometimes we overlook them because we’re so familiar with them. The first was to love God. And the second was to love your neighbor as yourself.
So why love God? Because our neighbors and we are created in the image of God. When we love our neighbor, we’re worshiping God. They go together.
A simple thing to do is to greet everybody in your neighborhood; get to know them. Be friendly at work, get to know everybody. Treat each person equally at your place of work or in your school. Obey the eleventh commandment. Do not stereotype. And as a twelfth commandment, do not be a bystander. Don’t watch it happen. Civil disobedience is about disobeying laws and orders that dehumanize others. Civil disobedience is divine obedience, because it’s protecting the dignity of every human being.
The people from the village of La Chambon, France, who saved 5000 people, including 3000 Jews, during World War II didn’t have theology degrees. Most of them left school at the age of 12. But they did know to love your neighbor as yourself. It wasn’t just an idea. It was something that reflected a habit. The people of La Chambon didn’t have to think about it. They were living out the worth of souls in the sight of God, which is an essential value of the restoration. It’s very simple, I think.
Prayer Phrase
“Love does no wrong to a neighbor…” (Romans 13:10).
Spiritual Practice
Prayer
Pray for supportive organizations.
“Strengthener, support the work of organizations aiding refugees. Provide them with the resources and guidance they need.”
Today’s Prayer for Peace
Engage in a daily practice of praying for peace in our world. Click here to read today’s prayer and be part of this practice of peace.