FIFTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
(Deuteronomy
30:10-14; Colossians 1:15-20; Lucas
10:25-37)
The gospel
today begins with two questions. The
scholar of the law asks Jesus about how one is to inherit eternal life. Jesus responds with his own question: “’What
is written in the law?’” Eventually we
are provided answers to both questions.
The law asks that one love God above all and also one’s neighbor. Allow me to add two more questions that will
help us understand better this beautiful parable. The first is, what does “eternal life”
mean? The second question is the same as
the scholar of the law asks, “’…who is my neighbor?’”
“Eternal
life” is mentioned many times in the New Testament. Various theologians and other writers have
commentated on the concept. Some think
of eternal life as if it were an island where the immortal soul can gaze on the
wonder of God. They have in mind the
“beatific vision” in which, according to St. Paul, we see God “face to
face.” Others consider eternal life as
the family table in which our souls are reunited with the souls of our loved
ones. Curiously those who hold this
interpretation almost never include God in their expectation. Still others
anticipate eternal life as a world renewed.
There we live – body and soul – with people of all races, means, even
religions along with the resurrected Lord Jesus. An idle life is not the plan here but
harmonious cooperation to perfect community life.
It seems
that this third interpretation of eternal life is best from the viewpoint of
the New Testament. If Jesus rose from
the dead bodily, then it should be the destiny of all who follow him. It is certain that the inhabitants of eternal
life will have to wait until the end of time for the reunification of their
bodies and with their souls. But they will
make use of the time to purify themselves of defects, including the lack of
appreciation of other kinds of people.
If they are already known to be saints, then this intermediate state can
serve as an opportunity to know better the qualities of other kinds of people.
Regarding
the other question - who is my neighbor? – we can propose another three
possible responses. We are used to
thinking of the man or woman who lives next door as our neighbor. Still, we know that the word “neighbor”
reaches beyond our neighborhood. Our
neighbor is anyone who demonstrates goodwill toward us. If another person says to me, “Good morning,”
I consider her a neighbor. She may live
in Denmark or in D.C., it doesn’t matter in this sense of the word. However, according to Jesus’ parable,
neighbor includes someone to whom we don’t matter. He or she is the person who frowns at us,
even the one who makes fun of us. He or
she is our neighbor because what makes one a neighbor is not how she or he sees
us but how we see him or her. The Lord
Jesus has redeemed us with his love so that we might look on others with
love. In other words, Jesus has died
that we might be neighbors to all people.
The mother
of one of the best pastors in a diocese was a person who loved everyone. Her
son, the priest, used to say, “She never met a stranger.” To a sixty or a six year-old, to a black or a
white woman, whether dressed in silk or in denim, the woman would extend a
greeting and begin a conversation. It is
no surprise then that her son was such a fine priest. As his mother, he loved everyone.
Possibly we
can understand better now eternal life.
It will be the occasion for the whole world to know one another as
neighbors. Perhaps not everyone who has
ever existed will be included in this group.
Some have chosen to reject the love which God has extended us in Jesus
Christ. But for those who have chosen to
follow Jesus, he will introduce them to others.
Let’s hope that we among this blessed group.
