We Presbyterians don’t typically talk about individuals as saints. But we often make an exception for Mr. Rogers (and maybe now, Dolly Parton). Fred Rogers was a Presbyterian minister who lived out his calling to share the gospel with his popular children’s television program, “Mr. Rogers Neighborhood.”
Through songs, stories, imagination and a friendly cardigan, Mr. Rogers reminded generations of children (and adults) what it means to be a good neighbor — to give children space to talk about hard things, to model how we break down barriers of race and gender and class and to teach us all that everyone can be a helper and everyone can be kind.
When Jesus was asked about the greatest of the commandments, he summarized them in a way we could all remember: Love God. Love your neighbor as you love yourself.
When others tried to narrow the definition of who might qualify as a neighbor, Jesus made sure his followers knew that it included all kinds of people. He famously told the parable of the Good Samaritan to demonstrate that compassion and care without conditions are the heart of loving one’s neighbor (and that the unlikeliest of people — even people we have been taught to think of as our enemies — are actually our neighbors too).
Love God. Love your neighbor.