Faith Beyond Borders in Action
Faith beyond borders doesn’t mean ignoring our differences. Instead, it means refusing to let those differences define who deserves our compassion. It’s about stepping into uncomfortable spaces and proclaiming God’s universal love through our actions. Think of the Good Samaritan, who crossed societal and cultural boundaries to care for a man left for dead. Think of Mother Teresa, who saw the face of Christ in the poorest of the poor. Think of Martin Luther King Jr., who preached love and nonviolence in the face of hatred.
What would it look like for us to embody this kind of faith today? Perhaps it’s extending kindness to a neighbor whose politics clash with your own. Maybe it’s welcoming refugees into your community or advocating for those with no voice. It could be as simple—and as complex as forgiving someone who has wronged you. Each action is a step toward living a faith that refuses to be confined by the borders of comfort or prejudice.
The Danger of Self-Righteousness
The phrase “get off your high horse” dates back to medieval times, when riding tall horses symbolized power and status. Over time, it became a metaphor for arrogance and superiority. It’s a fitting reminder today.
We may not ride literal horses, but we can still find ourselves perched atop judgmental attitudes, looking down on those we see as different. It’s easy to slip into the mindset that our way of thinking is not only right but righteous. Yet scripture tells us: “God does not show favoritism” (Acts 10:34). Jesus calls us to get down from our high horses and see others through His eyes. This means setting aside the pride that blinds us and embracing the humility that allows us to recognize the divine spark in every person.
Barriers to Boundless Faith
So, what keeps us from living out this radical, boundary-breaking faith? Fear is often at the root—fear of change, being wrong or losing something: status, comfort, or control. But Jesus reminds us that “perfect love casts out fear” (1 John 4:18). When we open ourselves to the transformative power of God’s love, we find the strength to break down the barriers that divide us.
Reflect on this: Are there groups of people you struggle to see as deserving of God’s love? Are there situations where your faith feels confined by judgment or fear? This tension between fear and faith is not new. Even in fields as vast as science, there’s a temptation to see ourselves as insignificant, isolated by the enormity of the universe.
A distinguished astronomer once declared, “To an astronomer, man is nothing more than an insignificant dot in an infinite universe.” To which Albert Einstein replied, “I had often felt that way. But then I realize that the insignificant dot who is man is also the astronomer.”
Einstein’s words echo a truth found in Jesus’ teachings: when we humbly acknowledge our smallness before God, we discover our immense worth in His eyes. This paradox runs through the Gospel. Jesus tells us that the last will be first, those who lose their life will save it, and that insignificant dots can be transformed into the most significant ones through God’s love.
