Expanding Our Circle
Most of us feel overwhelmed from time to time. I recognize that for you, the overwhelm may be of a different nature than my own, though no less important: a diagnosis of stage four cancer, the loss of a job, caring for an elderly parent who is declining, a child bullied at school, a knee injury that prevents you from doing what you love. With all of the demands on our lives, we have to prioritize our time and resources.
The overwhelm, for me, stems from my concerns at a national and global level as well as my relationships with and love for my neighbor. Particularly, how can I in this moment love and serve my neighbor? Recently, Vice President Vance pointed out a hierarchy of love; we must first love our families (our tribe, our people), then extend that love to others in our neighborhoods and communities. Only then, should we love our neighbors across the globe. He said it as if it were a fundamental Christian belief. It is not.
Jesus, remember, defined family and neighbor in a profoundly different way. It was shocking for the people in his world to hear as their culture mandated they care for their kin first and foremost and then fellow Israelites. It shocks us even today as we focus most (if not all) of our energy and resources on our families. When Jesus’ family came to remove him from his ministry and bring him home, Jesus asked the crowd, “‘Who are my mother and my brothers?’ And looking at those who sat around him, he said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother’” (Mark 3:33-35). Jesus expanded the notion of family. I often prioritize my love and service to my family. Yet, as a Christian I am called to do what I can to love and serve those outside of my inner circle. At the very least, I cannot dismiss those who are not my kin.
When asked to name the greatest commandments (the Law of Moses includes over 600!), Jesus named two. The second one, “Love your neighbor as yourself” emphasizes those outside of my inner circle. Then Jesus responded to the question: “And who is my neighbor?” by telling the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37). Recall who stopped and cared for the injured man; it was a Samaritan, who was a Gentile and a foreigner. Our neighbor is not only the person next door but people all around the world. Jesus asks another question in Luke: “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them…But love your enemies… expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great… Be merciful just as your Father is merciful” (6:32, 35-36).
In this present moment, I admit I feel overwhelmed at the prospect of doing anything that will make a difference. Sometimes, it’s all I can do to nurture my loved ones. It’s easy to feel powerless and to lose faith.
The Book of Hebrews tells me to run my race and keep my eyes fixed on Jesus (12:2). My “race” is different for me than it is for you. Though I believe that we can train together, helping one another to do that which we believe is God’s will as we expand our circle. Fr. Greg Boyle calls it our “circle of compassion.” Let us help one another to enlarge our circle, little by little and include our neighbor however different or far away. Keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, not the Vice President, we can come just a little closer to doing God’s will. The Gospels call us to expand our love. Let us not forget.
