![]() ![]() The first problem we encounter in trying to define love is the fact that the word is used to identify a wide variety of feelings we have for the people and things in our life. As important as knowing who our neighbor is, perhaps the more important question would be, “What is love?” or maybe “How do we demonstrate our love?” because only by understanding love and how to demonstrate it can we really understand what it means to love our neighbor. ![]() Sometimes I think that the scholar in the passage asked Jesus the wrong question. Neighbor, the parable informs us, is anyone who needs help. As the parable unfolds, it is clear that by “neighbor” Jesus doesn’t just mean the people next door or even the people who live in one’s own town. But whatever the reason, Jesus responds by telling the Parable of the Good Samaritan. I have always felt that the scholar asks the question to put Jesus on the spot. This seems to settle the matter.įor some reason, however, the scholar takes the episode one step further by asking Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Scripture tells us that he asks this question in order to justify himself. The scholar replies that, “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.” Jesus commends the man for answering accurately and tells him that if he does these things he will have eternal life. Knowing that the man understands scripture, Jesus doesn’t directly answer the question but asks the man what the Law of Moses has to say about the matter. The passage in Luke’s Gospel about the Greatest Commandment and the Good Samaritan begins with a scholar of the law asking Jesus what he must do to attain eternal life. ![]() The Good Samaritan story actually begins with Jesus’ teaching about the Greatest Commandment (Luke 10:25-28). Found in Luke’s Gospel ( Luke 10:29-37), this parable is Jesus’ way of teaching us that our neighbor is anyone, anywhere who is in need of help. Most Catholics, most Christians in fact, even people who are only passingly familiar with the Bible, know the story of the Good Samaritan. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |