02.04.2026 | Ordinary Wednesday

​A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
 
It is a beautiful day in the neighborhood as the sunshine beams across this frosty February morning. The little Doodle girl and I braved the sidewalks of the city for our walkabout. Some stretches are perfectly dry, cleared over a week ago. Others have become rutted ice blocks that feel treacherous for this old man. But my Doodle girl is still very much a puppy in her need to go, so out we go.
 
I recently watched Lady Gaga’s new release, her cover of Mr. Rogers’ “Won’t You Be My Neighbor.” If you haven’t seen it, I highly recommend a quick YouTube search. It is a powerful, simple message of hope. “It’s a beautiful day in this neighborhood, a beautiful day for a neighbor.” Such a gentle invitation into a different world, a world filled with kindness, belonging, and shared humanity. A world so different from the one we often experience.
 
This lovely little liturgy of hope feels like an open door, a candle in the window welcoming you in. It reminds us that small things matter. There is a holiness in simple kindness. A gift of grace in the courage it takes to invite others into hope and love.
 
Scripture echoes this invitation. “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Luke 10:27) is not just a commandment but a way of being in the world. And Hebrews reminds us, “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it” (Hebrews 13:2). These ancient words feel especially alive right now, calling us back to the heart of what it means to be human.
 
Please, won’t you be my neighbor?
 
It feels like a rallying cry for us all. We are neighbors regardless of the color of our skin, the beliefs we hold or don’t hold, or the pronouns we choose or those that choose us. We are neighbors. My faith binds me to love everyone. My faith binds me to want what is good for all my neighbors.
 
Today, I pray that we will come together and ask every person we meet, every person who reflects the Creator of all things, every single one, Please, won’t YOU be my neighbor?
 
You are welcome here.