Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood

I loved the show “Mr. Rogers Neighborhood” growing up. Everyday, Mr. Rogers would stroll into his little townhome, put on a pea green sweater, change into a pair comfortable shoes, and cheerfully ask, “Won’t you be my neighbor?” I remember thinking, “This guy looks nice enough. He’s got a nice crib, a stocked fridge, and a stoplight in his living room. Yeah…I can be this guy’s neighbor.”

The reason I mention this is that I lived nowhere near Fred Rogers back in the day. His “townhome” was a probably a soundstage in Los Angeles. The point is Christ never mentions that our neighbors are simply the folks that live within a few blocks of us. In fact, many of our neighbors don’t even have homes. Our true neighbors live beyond street names and bus routes. We might not know their last name or where they were born. And, frankly, we may speak to them once and never again. But we have a chance…a choice…a command to love them. Listen to the words of Christ…

“Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundations of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me…As you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.” (Matthew 25:34-36, 40 RSV)

Who are our neighbors? Our neighbor is the guy that eats lunch by himself. Our neighbor is the new kid at school. Our neighbor is a man named Cliff from Tucson. Our neighbor lives down the street. Our neighbor lives on the street.

“You may go out into the street and have nothing to say, but maybe there is a man standing there on the corner and you go to him. Maybe he resents you, but you are there, and that presence is there. You must radiate that presence that is within you, in the way you address that man with love and respect. Why? Because you believe that is Jesus.” –Mother Teresa

Who is your neighbor?

--Brimas