Daily Reflections - October 8,2012

GO AND DO THE SAME

 

The question asked by the lawyer is a good one. We all want to inherit eternal life. However, the lawyer’s motive in asking Jesus was wrong. His motive was to disconcert Him. Jesus answers the question simply. We all know the first commandment: to love the Lord our God with all our heart and mind and strength. Yet the motivation of the question shines through when Luke tells us that the lawyer wants to justify and assert himself against Jesus. The man is charged to “do this and live.” The lawyer’s next question is in order to clarify his fulfillment of these commandments.

Jesus cleverly inserts a parable for the lawyer himself to come to his own conclusion. In the end, Jesus restates the force of the command to love God. Not only must one show love but “do” love, that is, put it into action. The parable ends by teaching the man that love must be shown in action to all, even one’s enemy. Samaritans were repugnant in the eyes of the Jews. They were judged as half-caste and not followers of the Law of God. There was rivalry between the Jews and Samaritans as to the place and origin of the Messiah. But the one who took pity on the half-dead man was a Samaritan. The man is challenged to go and do the same: to reach out to the unloved, unacceptable and rejected by others. Whether he does it or not, we do not know!

We can settle down to an easy living out of the commandments. However, the Lord will always call us forward to embrace the better way. It’s easy to say, “I love you, God,” but it is harder and involves more effort to show that love. There are always those whom we would rather not entertain, the ones we easily reject and leave half-dead on the side of the road. We don’t want to get involved. But Jesus calls forth a response of love that hurts, that goes beyond our comfort zone, that makes us become involved. It is a love that stretches us as it did with Jesus on the Cross. Jesus expects from us an agape kind of love — a love that sacrifices for the good of the other.Fr. Brian Steele, MGL

 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: Do you show your love to others outside of your comfort zone? Or do you love only those whom you know would love you in return?

 

Lord, You call me to love with all my mind and heart and strength. Fill me with the fire of Your love that reaches beyond sacrifice and selflessness. Amen.