March 18-A, 2023

The heroes in Jesus' view
were the prodigal son's father,
the good Samaritan,
the sower who went out to sow,
the gardener who said,
"Let me tend the fig tree,
and give it another year."

The people who shared a cup of water
with the thirsty,
a loaf of bread
with the hungry,
who visited those in prison,
and cared for those who were sick.

Who did right by their neighbors
and were a neighbor to all.

I said, "Who were a neighbor to all."

Gay and lesbian,
transgender,
people of color,
the poor and homeless
(Of whom Jesus was one).

Everyone who needed a neighbor
had one in Jesus.

What would the prodigal son
have had to do
for his father to tell him,
"You are no son of mine!
Get out of my sight!
And don't you ever come
back around here again!"?

What would the man in the ditch
have had to have done
for the Samaritan
to spit in his direction 
and walk on by?

All it takes to be a hero
in Jesus' view
is to be kind and compassionate,
gentle and humble-hearted,
considerate and thoughtful,
a generous and just human being.

Doing what needs to be done
the way it needs to be done
when and where it needs to be done,
throughout the time left for living.

With nothing at stake in the outcome
beyond the joy of doing it
and the satisfaction of having done it,
our entire life long.

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