Fields United Methodist Church

Celebrate Jesus!

Pastor Tom Joyce

July 4, 2022

“She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to what he was saying.”

Luke 10:39

The question, “who is my neighbor,” has been on the minds of followers of Christ ever since he said in no uncertain terms to, “love your neighbor.”  In an age of social media and garage door openers, getting to know our neighbor can be profoundly difficult. In the story of Mary and Martha, Martha was in the house working over a hot stove and Mary sat at the Lord’s feet and listened. Maybe to get to know the people that live around us is to take the time as Mary took the time to listen. Mary listened to Jesus, his words of grace, mercy, hope and joy of living a lifestyle of celebrating those around him. Jesus was all about relationships; witnessing, listening, absorbing, and celebrating all people. The first step in any relationship is to listen. As a child we would visit my grandparents whose porch was no more than ten feet from the sidewalk. People would stop by and just talk. Neighbors were met and relationships established. Our faith in Jesus is not a set of beliefs to expound upon rather it is sharing the witness of Jesus to those neighbors around us, taking the time to listen, slowing our pace enough to move beyond a quick wave before entering the garage never to be seen until the next morning. Take time with Jesus, and share his witness offered to you with your neighbor; neighboring begins on your street, in your apartment complex, at the store, at the ballfield, church and wherever the people of God gather.  You have two amazing gifts to share; your faith and your time. In living out faith in Jesus the answer to, who is my neighbor, will become obvious resulting in you being a blessing as you have been blessed.