This sermon, delivered at The Riverside Church, delves into the profound question, “Who is my neighbor?” drawing inspiration from the biblical text of Luke 10:25-37. The speaker emphasizes that the parable of the Good Samaritan challenges us to expand our understanding of “neighbor” beyond our immediate circles.
The sermon opens with a prayer and a musical performance of “I Love You Lord Today.” The speaker then references the story in Luke, where an expert in the law attempts to test Jesus with a question about eternal life. This sets the stage for a broader discussion about how we often deflect from critical issues by focusing on trivial ones.
A significant portion of the sermon addresses the plight of Palestinians and the actions of the state of Israel, including the construction of the apartheid wall. The speaker cites various authors and scholars who condemn these actions, drawing parallels to South African apartheid.
The core message of the sermon is a call to recognize the humanity in everyone, even those we may have been taught to hate or consider different. Drawing from the idea that all humans are made in the image of God, the speaker challenges the audience to embrace a radical notion of neighborliness, encompassing all races, classes, genders, sexual orientations, religions, and social statuses.
The sermon concludes with a reiteration of the central commandment: to love God and to love our neighbors as ourselves, even our enemies. The congregation then unites in a final rendition of “I Love You Lord Today.”
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