Trinity Methodist Church

July 13, 2025

Trinity Methodist Church, Eugene Oregon

Based on: Psalm 82 and Luke 10:25-37

Rebecca Wetmore-Cook

Sermon: “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” 

Hello there neighbors. Most of us have heard of Fred Rogers, host and creator of the popular children’s show Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. But did you know that he was an ordained Presbyterian minister?

 Did you know that his catchphrase, “won’t you be my neighbor,” is a direct reference to the Parable of the Good Samaritan? Fred Rogers was an amazing man, whose unique ministry reminds us of the creative ways in which God calls us all to our own individualized ministries.

Although he barely stepped foot behind a pulpit, Mr. Rogers’ sermons reached millions. Living rooms became churches as Fred artfully delivered stories and lessons promoting the spirit of the Good Samaritan. 

Fred wasn’t just a Good Samaritan himself, he was preparing generations of Good Samaritans to go forth and do likewise. Fred saw his work in television as his ministry, aiming to spread messages of love, compassion, and the inherent worth of every individual. He rarely spoke overtly about religion on the show, believing that he could communicate these values through example instead.

Rogers consistently tackled complex societal issues in an age-appropriate manner, such as divorce, war, and death. His approach was rooted in the belief that children deserve to understand their world and have the tools to cope with challenging emotions. 

For example, in 1968, in the immediate aftermath of Martin Luther King Jr.’s assassination, he quickly wrote a script for a special program to help children process the news. This reflected his commitment to helping children navigate trauma and his insistence on open, honest communication, guided by compassion. 

In a powerful moment that aired during a time of significant racial tension and segregation in public spaces, Rogers invited Officer Clemmons, an African American police officer played by actor François Clemmons, to cool his feet in a kiddie pool with him. 

Rogers then dried Clemmons’ feet with a towel. This simple act of shared humanity and care, especially in a context where Black people were often prohibited from swimming alongside whites, was a profound visual statement against racial discrimination. It mirrored biblical themes of foot-washing, humility and loving one’s neighbor, embodying Rogers’ commitment to inclusivity and breaking down barriers. This scene was so impactful it was replicated again years later.

Throughout Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, a core message was “You are special,” and “I like you just the way you are.” Rogers continually reinforced the idea that every child has intrinsic value, not based on their abilities or actions, but simply by being themselves. 

This resonates deeply with the Christian theological concept of being loved by God simply for existing, a foundational belief in his faith. He believed his role was to communicate this unconditional acceptance to his young audience.

In a series of episodes addressing conflict between neighboring lands, Rogers concluded by flashing the Old Testament verse Isaiah 2:4 on the screen: “And they shall beat their swords into plowshares, And their spears into pruning forks; Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, Neither shall they learn war any more.” 

This direct biblical reference underscored his understanding of religion as a tool for service and peace, demonstrating his hope for a world where conflict is transformed into productivity and cooperation.

The Lord sends us all forth as ministers, often in unexpected contexts. He puts good people, like Mr. Rogers, and like all of us, into less-obvious positions of power, so that we can then use that power to create a world-wide neighborhood of Good Samaritans.

Our Psalm from this morning, Psalm 82, admonishes those with obvious, earthly positions of power. It is a strong rebuke, where God stands in the divine assembly and pronounces judgment on those who rule. 

“How long will you defend the unjust and show partiality to the wicked? Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked.” 

This psalm calls out those in authority who fail to act justly, who, the verse says “know nothing, they understand nothing. As they walk about in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken.” 

It is a stark reminder that true power, true authority, comes with the sacred responsibility to care for the vulnerable, to ensure justice, and to illuminate the path for those in darkness. It calls the rulers “false gods,” not because they are literally divine, but because they have usurped God’s role by failing to uphold His divine justice. They use their power to oppress, to harm, to leave the victims of this world on the side of the road dying while they ride by without giving it a second thought.

This profound critique of earthly power finds its echo in the Parable of the Good Samaritan from Luke 10, the very parable that inspired Fred Rogers. When the expert in the law asks Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?”, he’s not looking for a broader definition, but a narrower one – a way to limit his responsibility. 

But Jesus tells a story that shatters all preconceived notions of who deserves our compassion. A man is robbed, beaten, and left for dead. A priest and a Levite, men of religious standing and presumed moral authority, pass by on the other side. They represent those who, like the quote-unquote “gods” in Psalm 82, fail to use their position for good.

Then comes the Samaritan. Samaritans and Jews were traditional enemies, holding deep-seated prejudices against one another. Yet, it is this outsider, this “other,” who stops, who binds the man’s wounds, who transports him to an inn, and who pays for his care, promising to return and cover any additional costs. 

The Samaritan doesn’t ask about the man’s background, his beliefs, or his worthiness. He simply sees a human being in need and acts with profound compassion.

Jesus then turns the question back to the expert in the law: “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” The answer is undeniable: “The one who had mercy on him.” And Jesus’ command to us, to that expert, and to all who hear this story, is equally clear: “Go and do likewise.”

This parable isn’t just a nice story; it’s a divine imperative. It demands that we transcend our prejudices, our comfort zones, and our self-interest to actively seek out and serve those in need, regardless of who they are or where they come from. It reminds us that our true power, our true calling, is found not in avoiding discomfort but in embracing compassion.

The truly powerful in Christ are those who use their positions for good. Those of us who minister from wherever God places us—the EMT ministers, rushing to accidents; the grandmother ministers, nurturing young souls; the firefighting ministers, bravely facing danger; the caregiving ministers, tending to the vulnerable; the teacher ministers, shaping minds and hearts; the advocate ministers, speaking truth to power; the friend ministers, offering a listening ear; and the quiet neighbor ministers, leaving a meal on a porch. The list goes on and on.

Every single one of us is called to be a neighbor, in the spirit of the Good Samaritan. With every act of kindness, with every finite, human, display of God’s infinite love, Christ’s Kingdom, his neighborhood, is brought to earth. Just as Fred Rogers created a neighborhood of acceptance and love on television, so too are we called to build a genuine, tangible neighborhood of God’s love here in Eugene and beyond.

This week, let us ask ourselves: Who is the neighbor God is calling me to be for someone in need? Ask yourself: how can I, like Fred Rogers, use my unique gifts and position to spread God’s unconditional love?

Let us go forth, neighbors, and do likewise. Let us be the hands and feet of Christ, building a neighborhood where every person feels seen, valued, and loved.

Amen.