Word to the Wise
Sunday, July 10, 2022 - 15th Sunday in Ordinary Time - C
[Deut 30:10-14; Col 1:15-20; Luke 10:25-37]"Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" "And who is my neighbor?"'
These are the two questions that the "scholar of the law" posed to Jesus. The first question is one of "doing." The second is one of "being." At the end of the parable, Jesus asks a question: "Which of these three, in your opinion, was neighbor to the robbers' victim?" He [the lawyer] answered, "The one who treated him with mercy." Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise." Being and doing are brought together and represent the challenge Jesus poses to us today.
The lawyer's second question is motivated by a desire to "justify himself." Is he looking for Jesus to ratify an interpretation of neighbor that is convenient to the lawyer's prejudices? Is compassion limited to the identity of the person in need? The identity of the victim is unknown, but he appears to be dead. What feelings would that cause? The Samaritan traveler does not ask about the identity of the victim. He responds with compassion instead of revulsion. In short, the character of the Samaritan was the source of his action, and not the law, although Samaritans accepted the same Torah that Jews do.
How much of our feelings and actions are based on the identity of the "other?" How does our faith in Jesus shape our own identity and integrity? If and when we think about this, do we immediately try to "justify" ourselves with all kinds of "What if...?" questions? Do our actions indicate our faith? The parable of the Good Samaritan is not just about what we DO, but also about who we ARE and how the latter shapes the former! AMEN