As Jesus teaches us, “our relationship with our fellow men, women and children are inseparable from our relationship with God. Love of God and love of our neighbors are two aspects of the same calling”
Go and do likewise
Luke 10:25-37
The Parable of the Good Samaritan
Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he said, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the law? What do you read there?” He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” And he said to him, “You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.”
But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus replied,
“A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, ‘Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.’ Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?” He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”
The ELCA has many opportunities for us to show our love for our neighbors around the world.
Lutheran Disaster Response – Lutheran Disaster Response helps us be the church in the midst of disasters in our hometowns and around the world. Lutheran disaster Response was there to aid with the wildfires that struck California last Fall and the Nepal Earthquakes last year. Wherever a major disaster strikes, Lutheran Disaster Response will be there.
Lutheran Malaria Campaign – as a part of the Always Being Made New: The Campaign for the ELCA the Malaria Campaign was devoted to raising $15 million dollars for Malaria Education, Testing, Training Medical Care and Distribution of insecticide-treated bed nets. The major Initiative for the Campaign was 2015 and the campaign met their goal.
Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service – The ELCA is “a church that does God’s work in the world and in local communities pursuing justice, peace and human dignity for and with all people. In partnership with Lutheran congregations and Lutheran social ministry organizations, Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service has welcomed more than 379,000 refugees to the United States since 1939. This ongoing partnership and work is driven by God’s love for all people and a vision for congregations to be welcoming and generous centers for mission and ministry.”