[Salvation]

Arlington Catholic Herald

GOSPEL COMMENTARY LK 10:25-37

Of questions and questioning

By Fr. Paul Scalia

Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life? Thus a scholar of the law asks Our Lord (cf. Luke 10:25-37). It is not only a good question it is perhaps the only question. The answer determines one's entire way of living. And yet it is not asked well. This lawyer asks not out of genuine, unfeigned desire to live rightly and attain eternal life. He asks to test Jesus, as Luke tells us. In short, it is a great question poorly asked. We should, then, take one thing away from this man's example and leave the other.

What we should learn from his example is, first, the importance of the question itself: What must I do to inherit eternal life? His question is a matter of final causality. He sets eternal life as his ultimate goal … and now wants to know how to get there. If we do not know where we are going, we will not know how to live. So, this man has at least half of the problem solved: He knows where he wants to go. Now he asks Our Lord how to get there. We should all be so interested in our final end. We should begin asking that question now, while we still can, not waiting until the question becomes 'What should I have done to inherit eternal life?

But aside from the particular question, the whole scene highlights the importance of asking right questions in general. The greater part of wisdom lies not in knowing everything (know-it-alls typically lack wisdom) but in asking the right questions. Unfortunately, most of us would ask a more banal question, directed not to eternity but to worldly comfort and convenience. We are curious about superficial, trivial and selfish matters (hence our penchant for gossip that parades as news). We desire to know only worldly things how to get more money, get the perfect body, get ahead in business, etc. Spiritual progress begins when we redirect our minds from curiosity about mundane matters to genuine interest in eternal truths.

The tragedy of this scene lies in the lawyer's motive. And that is what we ought not imitate. He desires to test (literally, Our Lord. He asks not to gain the answer but to put Jesus on the spot. His insincerity becomes even more apparent when he asks another question ;because he wished to justify himself. Again, not for truth or conversion, but for an ignoble reason.

Moral posturing is part and parcel of temptation, Pope Benedict once wrote. His observation is counterintuitive. We typically think of the tempter as simply evil and trying to lead us to evil. But it is not that cut and dry. Whatever position the tempter takes is designed to make us doubt our moral judgment to make us feel too rigid or too lax. Either extreme will do, so far as the tempter makes us falter and justifies himself.

Many fall into this today, flinging questions at the church, Our Lord's body. Jesus continues today as Teacher through His Church, whose doctrine nourishes and saves but also requires a change of life. Faced with that challenge many ask questions but cynically, seeking to test the church and/or to justify themselves. Contrary to popular belief, the church does not avoid questions. Rather, she welcomes the genuine seeker, one who asks rightly, with the disposition to receive and respond to the truth she bears.

Despite himself, therefore, the lawyer teaches us two essentials: to ask the right questions and to ask them in the right way. Our interest should be directed not to the things of but to the realities of God and eternity. Further, the right questions must be asked with a sincere desire to know what is true and conform our lives to it. Yes, we should ask things of God (check the psalms; they are full of questions). We should ask, however, not to put Him to the test or to prove ourselves right, but to receive truth from Him. If we were less curious about the things of this world and more intent on the things of heaven, we would be happy even in the asking of questions.

Fr. Scalia is Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde's delegate for clergy.

[Salvation]

The Work of God

And Jesus said to him: You go, and do in the same manner.

Catholic Gospels - Homilies, Matthew, Luke, Mark, John - Inspirations of the Holy Spirit 

Year C

 -  15th Sunday in Ordinary Time

And Jesus said to him: You go, and do in the same manner.

Luke 10:25-37

25 And behold a certain lawyer stood up, tempting him, and saying, Master, what must I do to possess eternal life?
26 But he said to him: What is written in the law? What do you read?
27 Answering, he said: 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 neighbour as yourself.
28 And he said to him: You have answered right: do this, and you shall live.
29 But willing to justify himself, he said to Jesus: And who is my neighbour?
30 And Jesus answering, said: A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among robbers, who also stripped him, and having wounded him went away, leaving him half dead.
31 And it chanced, that a certain priest went down the same way: and seeing him, passed by.
32 In the same manner also a Levite, when he was near the place and saw him, passed by.
33 But a certain Samaritan being on his journey, came near him; and seeing him, was moved with compassion.
34 And going up to him, bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine: and setting him upon his own beast, brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
35 And the next day he took out two pence, and gave to the host, and said: Take care of him; and whatever you shall spend over and above, I, at my return, will repay you.
36 Which of these three, in your opinion, was neighbour to him that fell among the robbers?
37 But he said: He that showed mercy to him. And Jesus said to him: You go, and do in the same manner.

Inspiration of the Holy Spirit - From the Sacred Heart of Jesus

As you become interested in possessing eternal life you become familiar with the great commandment: “Love the Lord your God with all your mind, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. And love your neighbour as yourself.”

Everyone has failed the holy commandment of loving God in a perfect way, except my mother. Man has used his mind, heart, soul and strength to love the perishable things of the world, to love himself more than God and to despise his neighbour.

How many thoughts cross the mind in one day, but how few are for God? How many times does the heart beat in one day for the things of the world, the vanities, the riches, the pleasures of life and neglects to desire God instead? And what about the soul, that breath of God in everyone that should be kept pure? How many things of this world tarnish it with sin because it gets blinded to the spiritual things? How many times does man use his strength to advance towards his own death instead of seeking life in the mysteries of God?

Not only does man fail loving God as he should, but to make things worse he adorns himself proudly with self-love, egoism and lack of charity for others. This provokes my anger since I have come to teach unconditional love, mercy and compassion. My lessons of love are continually despised and seem to be an unconquerable challenge for most people.

Surely life provides daily opportunities for everyone to amend his ways, to start loving God as he should and to care for his neighbour.

I am a patient God who has allowed the world to have a share of good and evil in order to let everyone make his decision for me. It is not too late for you to concentrate in the true love of God.

And remember, to love me is to obey my commandments. What I desire is that you love one another as I have loved you. Your charity for others touches my heart with love, because what you do for others you do indeed for me.

Love me as you love your neighbour.

Author: Joseph of Jesus and Mary