It is said ‘Everybody needs good neighbours’. This has been true through the ages. Loving our neighbours across the world was the subject of Christian Aid Week last week.

Many years ago, Jesus was asked a question on this very subject, which was: ‘Who is my neighbour?’ The answer He gave, indicates that actually, everybody is my neighbour! If we accept this as true, then the real question becomes ‘Who am I and how do I respond to my neighbours need?’ So what is my answer to that question? Do I respond with compassion and unconditional love, or is my response more limited?

Some people are easier to love than others. Some people we feel, may not deserve our love. But if we only love those who love us, or even stretch our love to those we feel are worthy, then how is that going to change anything?

I suggest we need to break out of this cycle by loving the unlovely - such as the homeless, for example, or people we don’t like or who annoy or wrong us. How do we love those who are unlovely or unworthy?

To go back to Jesus’ example, we do this by having compassion and actively helping people, our neighbours, in their need. That’s risky, for a whole range of reasons. If you want to see or hear how this can work, why not find out about charities such as Manna House or your nearest food bank and see what practical help for those in need in our community can look like.

Jonathan Brook

Manna House (Cumbria)