Your Neighbor in the Church

For most of human history, there has been a large disconnect between people from different towns, cities, states, and even parts of the world. This was because, for the majority of human civilization, we did not have a way to interact with anyone who lived a considerable distance away. Problems with terrain, animals, and people would prevent us from traversing such large distances. It was normal in these times to not talk to friends or relatives for months, years, and even decades; this was a normal part of life that, for most of our history, we bore with uncertainty about anything happening to our loved ones.

The Death of Distance

It was the invention of the internet that made connections that could once rarely be shared available to everyone: family members that you haven't seen in years, old friends from high school, and many more examples of how the internet can rekindle a connection between us. This is not just limited to the people we have known, but extends to many people across the world. I couldn't tell you how many amazing people I have met online, people that I ordinarily would never have known. Though there is good that can come from the internet, nothing made by human hands can come without its deficiencies.

With the internet, we are so connected to the world outside of the world around us. Think about this: when was the last time you checked in with other parishioners at your parish? We know so much about the events taking place at other dioceses and churches around the world, but so little about our neighbors in the church. It is fellowship that makes the church so powerful: the fact that we share in a common love and devotion for Christ, the Body of Christ. We all work together as a foundation for one another, but when we disregard how one member of the body might be lacking emotionally or spiritually, the whole body will suffer.

Who Have We Failed to Notice?

I think about the Parable of the Good Samaritan, where Jesus details for us what it means to be a good neighbor, with there being a man who fell victim to robbers and was injured (Luke 10:29-37). In the parable, there are three examples of neighbors. One, a priest was walking, saw the man, and crossed the street to avoid him. Two, a Levite saw the man and did the same as the priest. Three, a Samaritan saw the man and had compassion in his heart; he bandaged him, took him to an inn, and paid the innkeeper to take care of him. With these examples of neighbors, how do we fall into these categories? A better question might be: how many times have you been one of the first two neighbors?

We might not be able to see when someone is lacking spiritually or emotionally. They may show up to Mass every Sunday and appear to be full in their faith, but this is not always the case. Think of all the times you went to Mass and did your best to appear well and good, but you suffered internally. You may still be stuck in that well of spiritual and emotional emptiness.

The Inconvenience of Love

We must detach ourselves from the screen and orient ourselves toward those that God has placed in front of us. Our brothers and sisters are right next to us, and yet we do not recognize them. We must change the fact that we do not know each other if we want to change our ignorance of others' inner suffering. I do not know anyone who truly feels confident enough to talk about the suffering they endure in private, and most of the time, they never will. They will only allow themselves to spiral down further into despair. This is where it falls on you.

After Mass, go and talk to someone. Learn their name, where they are from, what they do, their family, their patron saint, or their favorite prayer. You do not have to be a therapist to others, but you can be a light in someone else's darkness.

Having charity for others is a way of self-sacrifice, a way of making oneself holy. Because that sacrifice will be an inconvenience, meaning the convenience you would have had will be sacrificed, and that will be what makes you holy.

Technology has brought us many things. One of them is that it has brought the world to us, allowing us to know so many people we ordinarily would never know. But at the cost of those around us suffering, for technology has no love to give. The people sitting next to us at Mass are our true brothers and sisters in Christ, and we must recognize that and learn to love people we don't know. By inconveniencing ourselves, we can then love the person we have come to know.

Our brethern may be scattered across the world, but the one who needs us may be sitting right next to us.