“But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” (Luke 10: 29)
Jesus is confronted by one of the most insightful lawyers of his time. Lawyers, because of the nature of the profession, have a tendency to get lost in the details. This lawyer however, had waded through all 613 commands of the Torah and boiled them down to the most important two.
He then blew it by doing what I, and most people do, which Jesus implied was impossible, which is to try and justify himself. How much time in a day do we waste trying to justify ourselves? How much wasted mental energy goes into the incessant justification before the Lord, that we are doing all we know to do to find his will for our lives, and walk in it. We are told to “work out our salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you (y’all) to will and to act according to His good purpose” (Phil 2: 12b-13)
My problem and I believe much of the church’s, is that I confuse the “working out” with justifying myself and therein lies the problem. I think Jesus was playing with the lawyer a little. The lawyer knew the right answer: love God and your neighbor. Jesus tells him to do that and live, knowing full well that without his help (his dying on the cross and the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit), it was impossible.
Loving God is difficult enough when things are not going according to “our good purposes” , but how do you love your neighbor “rednecks” who blew off fireworks at 12 midnight, with any integrity. The only way I know how to even begin to tackle this difficult “command” is to read, mark, learn and inwardly digest Colossians 1:13. ” For he has rescued you from the kingdom of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the one he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”
In light of this truth, all attempts at self justification are shattered, and we are drawn to give thanks and pray. “For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will, through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this, that you would live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God”.
Is there any better prayer? Pray for me as I pray for you.
Peace and Love,
Fr. Mike
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