Sermon: Luke 10:25-37 Loving Our Neighbor As Ourselves: Stewarding Our Relationships

Sept 8, 2024
Pastor Veronica Alvarez

Last week we began a series of sermons on stewardship, remembering that this concept is not limited to the stewardship of financial resources, but encompasses our whole life in response to God's love and grace. We reflected on how our relationship with God is the foundation of everything, and how our direct connection with Him should be at the center of all that we do. As stewards, we are called to honor God, put Him first, and live in such a way that our lives reflect His glory and His love.

Today, we continue this series by exploring the second aspect of stewardship: how we steward our relationships with others Just as our relationship with God is foundational, so too are our interactions with others a crucial part of our stewardship. Jesus teaches us that loving our neighbor is inseparable from loving God. It is a concrete manifestation of our faith and a visible proof of our devotion to him.

The apostle Paul exhorts us to “to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love”. Paul emphasizes that, as followers of Christ, we are part of one body, united by one Spirit, one faith, one Lord. (Ephesians 4:1-6) Unity is fundamental to the body of Christ. However, unity does not mean uniformity. We are called to be patient, humble and to bear with one another in love, recognizing that each of us is different, but we are all valuable in God's eyes. 

But how do we live this unity in our daily lives? Through humility, patience, and love in our relationships with others.   As a community of faith, we must strive to maintain unity in the midst of our diversity. This means creating a space where all voices are heard and valued, where differences are not seen as obstacles, but as opportunities to enrich one another. Consider how our differences can be a source of strength, reflecting the diversity and fullness of the body of Christ.

One way we can steward our relationships is through open and honest communication This means being clear in the way we speak and ensuring our words reflect respect and love. I am the first one to admit that sometimes I am not very clear when I speak.  In my previous job I had a colleague that I would say some words to her and she would say “Veronica, you are eating words” because I was not being clear, and in my mind I expected her to understand perfectly what my mind was saying!.   Sometimes we say something, and the other person doesn't understand what we are saying or understand something totally different.  And I'm going to tell you here and now: if this keeps happening to me, If I keep eating my words, tell me “Hey Pastora, what do you mean? because I didn't understand or I understood this”. Being clear and respectful and saying I didn't understand you in the long helps to avoid misunderstandings. 

It is vital to address differences directly and respectfully, seeking solutions that benefit all parties. Practicing active empathy in our interactions allows us to connect deeply with friends, family members, or colleagues, showing that we value their perspectives and needs. 

Forgiveness is key to healing relationships. If someone offends us or we feel hurt, forgiveness is a doorway to reconciliation. Holding grudges can damage both the individual and the community, while forgiveness opens the door to healing and strengthening our relationships. When we forgive, we do not forgive for the benefit of the other person, we do it for our inner peace.  Jesus himself showed us the way to forgiveness, even on the cross, when he prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Sometimes our pride is stronger making us say “ He hurt me, why should I forgive him” but if we think about Christ, and how even though we are sinners He continues to love us over and over again, and continues to forgive us over and over again, that is the example that Jesus gives us. 

To cultivate a more compassionate relationship, we can engage in volunteer activities that allow us to serve others, like they say walking in somebody else shoes will help us developing greater understanding and love for those around us. Patience is also essential in our daily relationships, especially in situations of stress or conflict, thus showing the love and understanding that Christ has taught us.

Jesus gives us the example of the Good Samaritan, who showed compassion and care for an injured man, a stranger, while others ignored him. This passage challenges us to ask ourselves: Who is my neighbor? Jesus teaches us that our neighbor is not only the one who looks like us or with whom we agree, but anyone who needs our love and care. (Luke 10:25-37).

the story of the compassionate Samaritan points out how living the Christian life is both simple and incredibly difficult. On the one hand, it is easy to recognize that mercy is a key Christian virtue and that one should show mercy to others. Jesus' command to “go and do likewise” (v. 37) is a very simple exhortation. However, showing true compassion to our neighbor in daily life can be difficult.

It is not that we do not know what mercy is, in fact, the idea of loving our neighbor as ourselves is a good guide to understanding what acts of compassion are; no one wants to be treated harshly, to have our needs ignored, or to be overlooked in our hour of need. Instead, almost all of us expect others to treat us with kindness, to attend to our situation, and to stop and help us. We expect to be treated with compassion.

Jesus not only teaches us to love; He Himself is the greatest example of love. Through His sacrifice on the cross, He showed us the greatest love, giving His life for us. But His love is not limited to the past; it is an active love that continues to transform us today. He gives us the Holy Spirit to guide us, strengthen us, and enable us to love others as He has loved us.

As we approach the Lord's table, we not only remember Jesus' sacrifice for us, but we also participate in a profound act of communion with him and with all who are part of his body. In the Eucharist, Christ is present in a special way, and in receiving the bread and wine, we also receive his transforming grace.

We can strengthen our relationship with Jesus through prayer, study of the Word, and participation in the sacramental life of the church. In doing so, we allow the love of Christ to flow through us, impacting not only our lives, but also our families, our community, and beyond. It is in this communion with Christ that we find the strength to love others, forgive, and live in unity, reflecting the mercy we have received.

Every time we approach the table of the Lord, we are invited to renew our commitment to live as faithful disciples, to let Christ live in us and to bring his love to the world. This sacramental encounter compels us to act with love and justice in our daily relationships, building bridges of reconciliation and witnessing to the presence of Christ in our lives.

Dear siblings in Christ, loving our neighbor as ourselves is a task that requires intentionality and effort. It is not enough to say that we love; we must demonstrate it through our actions and attitudes. We are called to love our neighbor as Jesus loves us, to be a united community in the midst of diversity, and to allow the love of Christ to transform our lives and our relationships with others. It is not enough to know the commandment; we must live it!. 

True stewardship is reflected in how we love and serve others, following Christ's example. May our daily lives be a testimony to His love and grace.

As we leave here today, let us commit ourselves to be agents of reconciliation and love in all our relationships. May every interaction be an opportunity to reflect Christ's love, grace and grace in the world. May the Holy Spirit guide and strengthen us in this mission to be His hands and feet in the world. Amen