to BE

Two universal favorites: along with his Parable of the Prodigal Son, Jesus' Parable of the Good Samaritan comes along as a gospel reading in this, Year C of the three year lectionary cycle. Yesterday we read about the Good Samaritan (scroll down) and several things come to mind.

One is the story to start a sermon or homily off with a smile, in fact, I've used it:

A group touring the Holy Land was on their charter coach being driven on an itinerary of Jesus' ministry. The driver brought the bus to a halt at an intersection, and the tour guide stood up and pointed to the tumbled-down ruins of a building. "This was the inn where the Good Samaritan brought the wounded man," he announced.

"Wait a minute!" said the bishop who organized the group. "That's just a story Jesus told, it didn't really happen!"

Not missing a beat, the tour guide responded, "Well, if it had really happened, this is where the inn would have been."

The other thing is the story itself. I like about Jesus that he does not answer questions. When asked a question, he tells a story and leaves it hanging, you have to work out the answer yourself.

Just so here, a lawyer - - Luke says νομικός, a legal expert even more educated and skilled than a scribe in understanding, interpreting, and explaining Hebrew scriptures - - asks Jesus a question. Two questions actually.

What must I do to inherit eternal life?

Who is my neighbor?

The man is intelligent, he knows the scriptures, and Jesus lets him answer his own questions in familiar terms.

Eternal life is loving God, and loving neighbor. Nothing else matters. Where "love" is agape: not how you feel, but what you do, how you treat people.

And who is my neighbor?

Jesus turns everything upside down. You are not to sort through humanity seeking those who are your neighbor to treat them kindly. You are yourself to BE neighbor to others, including, especially, specifically, and precisely people you hate, detest, despise, hold in contempt; people who hate you, detest you, despise you, hold you in contempt. They are neighbor to you. You are neighbor to them.

It's quite simple; but it's unlikely, even impossible. Do it anyway. Just do it.

The gospel of the Lord.

Luke 10:25-37

A lawyer stood up to test Jesus. "Teacher," he said, "what must I do to inherit eternal life?" Jesus said to him, "What is written in the law? What do you read there?" The lawyer answered, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself." And Jesus said to him, "You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live."

But wanting to justify himself, the lawyer asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" Jesus replied, "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, `Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.' Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?" The lawyer said, "The one who showed him mercy." Jesus said to him, "Go and do likewise."