A Good Neighbor

Jesus sums up the Ten Commandments by giving us two Great Commandments, which is to love the Lord with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength, and to love our neighbors as ourselves. The parable of the Good Samaritan gives us Jesus' vision (indeed, his assumption) on what true neighborly love looks like. It is a full and complete service to those who are oppressed and downtrodden, and it is driven by our genuine compassion and concern for them. This, in turn, is made possible because of God's great mercy toward us. Thus, a serious church will extend mercy to its members and its community because it has received mercy.