If this story doesn’t make most of us feel a little uncomfortable, then we might be missing something. Because this story serves as a warning to us that if we don’t learn to love our neighbor here, in this life, then we can’t depend on learning it in the next life.

Our most important task in this life is to learn to love God, and to love one another. This is our mission – to love God, and to love our neighbor. Extending out into our families, friends, churches, schools, workplaces, communities, and throughout the world. To the poor man laying at the gate. To the weary stranger. To the hungry, the lonely, the grieving, the addicted, the immigrant, and the lost.

This parable is calling us to confront ourselves and our practices. So what if we did that by opening the gates of compassion and concern for others, generosity and sharing, healing and wholeness, forgiveness and reconciliation, justice and peace?  It really is pretty simple. We just have to learn to love. And if we do, then having a whatever happens, happens attitude wouldn’t feel so unsettling. Fortunately for us, our teacher has already shown us the way. Thanks be to God! Amen.