The Advent of a global neighbourhood

As we begin the Advent season, we’re reflecting on Jesus’ call for us to love our neighbours near and far.

Edited by Tearfund | 08 Nov 2024

Image Credit: Tom Price/Tearfund

The start of Advent brings us choices to make as we celebrate the season with our family, friends and church. How we choose to spend our time, our money, what we pray for and who we invite to join in with the festivities all give us an opportunity to share Jesus’ love with others.

We have a certain amount of control over who we share our homes and our friendship circles with. There are people we love because it’s easy – it’s comfortable. But Jesus was very clear. We need to love our neighbours too – and not just the ones who bring round cake now and then. All of them. Whoever they are. More than that, we are to love them as we love ourselves.

A global community

By ‘neighbours’, Jesus wasn’t only referring to the group of people who physically live near us either. Through the story of the Good Samaritan, he explains that our neighbour is… everyone in need (Luke 10:25–37).

Our neighbourhood, then, becomes a global community. In a world that is so often divided, the choice to love is a sign of hope.

‘Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.’

1 Peter 1:3

A living hope

God the Son took on flesh and was born into a neighbourhood of humanity. Through his birth on Earth, he placed himself into our physical neighbourhood to demonstrate how we should love others.

He chose us humans. Preferred us over his comfort. Moved into our neighbourhood of flesh with grace and love for us to receive and to emulate. Jesus’ birth began his journey towards the ultimate expression of love for us – his death and resurrection. And through this loving sacrifice, he is our ultimate living hope.

As we approach Christmas, let us pray that we, as the church and as humanity, will be reminded and inspired to live out this radical message of selfless love and echo that living hope in our own lives. That we will see and celebrate and lift each other up – preferring one another to ourselves.

If you’re looking for more ways to reflect on how you can love your neighbours – near and far – during the Advent season, sign up to receive prayers and hope-filled stories of transformation from around the world direct to your email inbox in the lead up to Christmas.

Discover stories of transformation and hope this Advent through our free prayer emails.

Pray with us

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for your son, Jesus – our living hope. Help us to love our neighbours well. May we live in a world of restored relationships, where all people are able to fulfil the potential you have placed inside them. And let this season of Advent be a time where we can draw even closer to you and embody the hope you bring in our own lives.

Amen

Edited by Tearfund

Similarly Tagged Content

Share this page

Share this page to spread the word and help support those in need.

Share on

Get our email updates

Learn about our work and stay in touch with Tearfund. Hear about our news, activities and appeals by email.