Closing reflections by the Reverend Jack Johnson, executive director, on the occasion of the Interfaith and Civic Leaders inaugural Breakfast on the dedication of the Islamic Society of Boston Cultural Center on Friday, June 26, 2009.

Peace be upon you.

Distinguished Imams, Reverend Clergy, distinguished guest,  Imam Basyouny Nehela, and my dear friend Bilal Kaleem.

It is an honor for me to be here this day.

To bring to you my Muslim brothers and sisters congratulations, well wishes and countless blessing on this celebratory occasion.

We together as the one hundred year old historic Massachusetts Council of Churches here in the Commonwealth, 17 communions of Christians in the Protestant and Orthodox traditions welcome this occasion as one of a significant moment in the life of our Commonwealth for persons of all faiths.

When Bilal honored me with this invitation to share a hope that we as Christians have for the Center I thought of that truth from that ancient tradition…  the truth of hospitality.

Ancient tradition teaches that Abraham, Hagar, and Sarah kept their tent open in all four directions of the world so that travelers who thirsted for water or hungered for food might be welcomed instantly and warmly no matter the direction from which they came.

I, too, thought of another story from our tradition, found in Luke’s Gospels, a story of hospitality.

Jesus’ teaching often shared in stories, called parables, and perhaps one of the most noted stories is that of The Good Samaritan, a story that Jesus underscored the importance of a neighbors love and in so doing confirmed who our neighbor is (Luke 10:29-37)

A story precipitated by a wise man questioning Jesus “who is my neighbor?”  Jesus’ response is the story of the Good Samaritan, the point of which seems to be that your neighbor is to be construed as meaning anyone who needs you.

I’m reminded on this occasion of a story of a Croatian of Serbian descent, a Christian, who was in charge of managing refuge resettlements for a part of Croatia.  Working on plans to rebuild a Muslim village that had been totally destroyed in the war, the man found that no mosque had been included.  When he inquired about it the mayor told him that he assumed that Christian organizations would not be willing to help fund the rebuilding of a mosque.  The relief worker replied “that because they were followers of Jesus Christ, that they would help rebuild it.  He said Jesus in telling the story of the Good Samaritan tells the story of one who helped his neighbor without asking him about his theology.”

Well, I trust we in the Christian community, whom I represent, have affirmed the building of this mosque.  Those gathered here today from our Christian faith celebrate with you in a welcome to the neighborhood.  You are our new neighbor, and your entrance to this neighborhood will deeply enrich us, but too it has not been one without difficulty and challenge.

In the parable in the “Good Neighbor” we hear of a story of a robber, an extremist, one whose behavior is unacceptable.

Significant to the character of a robber is the evoking fear.

A historical reality of all our religious traditions.

Creating fears that we do not want to walk down roads together, that rob us from the potential richness of our common bond.

My hope for this Center is that it will be a safe refuge, one of interfaith hospitality.

Where Christians, Jews, Muslims, people of all diverse faiths that make up our city and Commonwealth might find an inn of hospitality, such as the inn that the Samaritan took the wounded traveler, an inn where the inn keeper’s hospitality responded to the reality of the day, of different cultures, of different people of faith, of difficult moments where he welcomed two unlikely travelers, by providing space for healing when these two unlikely persons met.

The question who is my neighbor, might this not be the most important question we can ask, a matter of life and death for our planet.

Do we not all believe that God has a will and  intent for creation that is larger and more glorious than anyone’s particular religion, and has to do with reconciliation, peace with justice.

My hope for this Center is that it will be a space for a “family reunion” a reunion affirming that we are all God’s children.  A sacred space where the words of Psalmist may be affirmed.  “How Good and Pleasant it is when people live in unity” Ps. 133.

Might this Center be but one of those places, where people of differences, grounded in real life experiences of fear be united in spite of that fear because you as good neighbors provide a space of sacred interfaith hospitality.

Again, the words of the psalmist “How Good and Pleasant it is when people live in unity” Ps. 133.