“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: love your neighbor as yourself.” Matthew 22:36

“The neighbor and love for the neighbor have a wider range of meaning, rising to a higher level as the number of people increases.” Emanuel Swedenborg, True Christian Religion 412

There are different levels of the neighbor: the individual, the community, one’s country, the whole human race, and finally the Lord Himself. These levels are like a ladder with the Lord at the top. The higher the rung on the ladder, the greater the neighbor we serve. We begin with the lower rungs on this ladder, serving individuals close to us; our children, our family, our community.

But, if in serving these levels of the neighbor, we can, at the same time, keep in mind the higher neighbor, that is, our country, the whole human race and the Lord – our small efforts can be blessed and united to the greater purposes.

May you experience peace, fulfillment and gratitude as you reach out and serve your neighbor this holiday season.

Message by Rt. Rev. Tom Kline, Bishop.
Image source: www.istockphoto.com.

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