Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Today's Mass Readings

“Which of these three, in your opinion, was neighbor to the robbers’ victim?” (Lk. 10:36)

It is not a trick question. It is not a riddle. It is not “up in the sky” or “across the sea.” No, it is simple. Yet, it is hard. It requires going out of our way. Or rather, not going out of our way, but letting ourselves be moved with compassion at the sight of a beaten-up traveler. For we ourselves are travelers.

In today’s Gospel, several questions are answered with yet another question. First, the scholar asks the legitimate question: “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus answers with a question: “What is written in the law?” The scholar answers by loosely quoting from the Law of Moses: the first from Deuteronomy 6:5 and the second from Leviticus 19:18. He knows his Bible.

But, like a good scholar with an inquiring mind, he finds another question: “But who is ‘my neighbor’?” Jesus does not answer directly. He tells him a little story that points to an answer, and then puts the question back to him: “Which of these three…was neighbor…?”

Jesus does not spoon-feed the answers to the scholar. He draws them out of him. Jesus does not let himself be an internet search bar. He helps the scholar search for the answers that are already within him. They are not “up in the sky” or “across the sea.” No, they are in his mouth and in his heart. He has only to carry them out. He has only to go and do likewise.

For Today: Being a Christian is hard. To be a real Christian. By reading God’s word and consulting the Church, we know in our heart of hearts what we must do. We have only to listen with the ear of our hearts. Be still and pray!

Reflection by Br. Luke Kral, OSB