In some ways the idea of "love your neighbor as yourself" has been misunderstood. Yes, our neighbor is everyone we encounter as the parable of the Good Samaritan, on a basic level, illustrates. But this concept begins in families -- those souls closest to us -- as well as sometimes being the ones that irritate us the most.

A priest gave a sermon on this concept of neighbor and what it really means to love them. In the end it came to the notion of wishing them well, hoping and praying for their salvation (as we would hope and pray for our own; I don't know anyone who believes in eternity to not hope and pray for heaven for themselves).

Thank you for the reminders that there is an order to the world, guided from the time of the Old Testament with the Ten Commandments (God/Family/Society), and fully realized when Christ completed His three-fold mission to "teach, sanctify, and rule". Sadly we as a species have lost sight of this.

Wonderfully salient points, Joe! Appreciate it!