15th
Sunday in Ordinary Time
July
10, 2016
Luke
10:25-37
“Teacher,
what must I do to inherit eternal life? (Luk 10:25)”
The
scholars of the Law were representing the intellectual elite in Jewish society
at the time of Jesus. While the rest of Jewish people were struggling to fill
their stomach and living in bare necessity, this group had a rare access to
good education. We may reasonably suspect that the scholars were affluent
enough to read and study the Torah extensively and undisturbed. Compared to the
ordinary Jews, they were experts with the details and interpretation of the
Law. No wonder, they could easily develop the vice of pride.
Luke
described the scholar as one who ‘stood up’ and ‘test’ Jesus. Clearly, he came
out with his intellectual superiority and confronted Jesus to prove that he was
far better than Him. He might think, “Son
of carpenter; he knows nothing!” But, his pride brought him nothing but
defeat. He attacked Jesus with the most difficult question he had in his
arsenal. “Teacher, what must I do to
inherit eternal life?” Yet, Jesus was aware of his intention. Jesus
reminded him that the answer laid at the very heart of Torah itself, and
allowed him to answer for himself. “You
shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your being, with
all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself (Deu
6:5).” The answer was so simple yet true that every Jew who were with
Jesus, would immediately give their nod, and perhaps their little victorious
smile.
Refusing
to accept his defeat, the scholar made a last-ditch attempt to justify himself.
He asked Jesus who is this ‘neighbor’ he had to love. With His ingenuity and
wit, Jesus then presented him one of the loveliest parables ever told: the Good
Samaritan. To love means to love radically. To love means to do good even to
those who do not deserve our love. Yet, the genius of Jesus is not only to
force the scholar to acknowledge his defeat, but He allowed the scholar to
reflect on his life's deeper purpose as a Jew.
At
times, we are so confident with ourselves. We feel we know a lot. We engage in discussion
and debate on various issues in the Church and society. We take sides, either
on the progressive team or conservative group, and fight endlessly. We learn
theology, spirituality and leadership, and we feel we are better than the rest
of Church. We serve a particular ministry for so long, that we look down at
newcomers in the group. Unconsciously, we become like this scholar of the Law
who stands up and puts other into test. I confess also at times, I manifest
this prideful attitude. When I teach, I often project myself as the all-knowing
teacher and throw the hardest questions to my students. It gives a sense of
pleasure when I know I am the only one who can answer the questions. Lord, have
mercy on me!
Yet,
Jesus reminds us today a simple yet fundamental truth: pride only brings
defeat, only humility can bring us eternal life. And this humility can be best
practiced in love. To borrow the words of St. Paul, “And if I have the gift of
prophecy and comprehend all mysteries and all knowledge; if I have all faith so
as to move mountains but do not have love, I am nothing. If I give away
everything I own, and if I hand my body over so that I may boast but do not
have love, I gain nothing (1 Cor 13:2-3).”
Br.
Valentinus Bayuhadi Ruseno, OP
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