Referring to the launching of the satellite Telstar, Queen Elizabeth II, in her annual message to Britain and the Commonwealth, said, "Now we can all say the world is my neighbor, and it is only in serving one another that we can reach for the stars." How important it is to recognize the world as our neighbor and to see how its people individually and collectively can best be served!
Centuries ago a Teacher whose life made on the world the greatest impress ever known told a simple story illustrating what it means to be a neighbor. He told of a traveler on a dangerous road who fell among thieves. The man was stripped of his clothing, wounded, and left half dead. A priest and a Levite, both of whom were respected members of society, saw him but passed by. Then a member of a disfavored minority came and, seeing the victim, had compassion on him. He "went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him" (Luke 10:34). When he left, he even provided for the man's care.
This story of the good Samaritan, told by Christ Jesus, shows that the true neighbor, disregarding his own convenience and using all his resources, goes out of his way to help the needy one and continues his help until it is no longer needed. It also reveals that neighborliness extends beyond one's immediate neighbors or one's friends and countrymen.
