Luke 10: 25-37
Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he said, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the law? What do you read there?” He answered, “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 neighbor as yourself.” And he said to him, “You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.”
But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, ‘Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.’ Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?” He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”
New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. USCCB approved.
Go and Do Likewise
There’s always that one student in class who asks a question they already know the answer to. They’re not really looking for an answer; they’re looking for the opportunity to prove how smart they are. It takes every ounce of a teacher’s self-control not to respond with an Olympic-level eye roll.
Of course, in today’s Gospel, Jesus handles it better.
The scholar knows the law. He knows what is right, but he keeps complicating it, looking for a loophole that might make what Jesus asks a little easier. Jesus cuts through it all with “Go and do likewise.”
Sometimes we make following Jesus more complicated than it needs to be. We question. We look for exceptions. We convince ourselves that we need more time to figure things out. But we already know what Jesus is asking of us. Forgive. Be generous. Stop judging. Help the person who needs help. Treat others with mercy.
There are certainly times when we need to discern what God is asking. But there are also times when the answer is already pretty clear. Don’t overthink it. Just go and do likewise.
—Jackie Schulte is the Head of School and Dean of Faculty Formation at Creighton Preparatory School in Omaha, Nebraska.
Prayer
Lord Jesus,
Keep us from complicating what you have made simple.
Give us generous hearts that recognize our neighbor,
the courage to offer mercy without looking for exceptions,
and the willingness to “go and do likewise.”
Help us hear your words today and live them.
Amen.
—Jackie Schulte