Hello
You ever asked a question, knowing the answer you are intending, only to have it diverted? If no, great! (Though you probably haven’t had a heart to heart with Jesus). Here’s today’s Holy Nougat
“But he, desiring to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbor?” Luke 10:29 ASV
Sometimes we enter conversations with very distinct motives. We wish to impress the gathered community, to ‘show up’ someone or sometimes we set out to make/emphasize a point. All this is fine to an extent; but we ought also to be aware that conversation generally requires two persons and thus, it is possible that the respondent may point things in a different direction.
One could argue that having successfully represented himself with his question to Jesus, the young lawyer should have left the conversation right there. But no … the lawyer desired even more proof that he was doing well in being a model spiritual citizen. He asks what would seem to be an innocuous question; ‘Who is my neighbor?’
Maybe he desired the Sesame Street response – a Jesus jingle about the people that we meet when we’re walking down the street each day.
Or, perhaps his great desire was for a sectarian response, as sectarianism was rampant in that post-exotic period under Roman rule.
Had we posed the question to Jesus, what response would we expect? And what would your motive have been? Do persons of Other … qualify as neighbors? What of those in our region/nationality? How about migrants – legal and illegal? Or cyber friends whom we have never actually met? Or persons who have run afoul of the Justice system? Could our questioning have hidden motives? Would we be asking the question to celebrate, liberate or denigrate a particular group of persons?
Lord
May our motives be rooted in Love and sharing that Love with others. Help us build up even when we feel inclined to destroy another’s character. Help us tear down the ridiculous boundaries which terrorize and dehumanize for our (vain)glory. Hear us and heal our minds please Jesus. Amen
In Christ’s love and grace
