Reflection - Testing Jesus, or just asking?

http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/100818.cfm
Galatians 1:6-12
Luke 10:25-37

Luke tells us that when the scholar of the law stood up to ask Jesus his question, his purpose was to test Jesus. We cannot, however, assume from Luke’s choice of words, that this scholar was intending to set a trap. It is more likely that he was setting his own faith against that of Jesus and questioning whether or not the two were in sync with one another. This interpretation is reinforced by the exchange which followed:

“Well”, Jesus says, “how do you understand what you read in the law” [In essence, this is what the scholar asked Jesus.]

The man gives a remarkable summary, one which both Matthew and Mark put in the mouth of Jesus, himself.

Jesus then tells him that he has “answered correctly.”

Luke has a purpose in changing this detail from Matthew and Mark as he records the story. He has determined that the tale of the Good Samaritan will follow; and by this minor shift in the preceding exchange, he provides justification for the tale of the Good Samaritan. (Note that Luke is the only source for the tale of the Good Samaritan.) But the text tells us that it is the scholar of the law, not Luke, who has raised the issue of justification.

Because he wished to justify himself, he said to Jesus,
"And who is my neighbor?"

Justification, as used here should not be understood in the theological sense as in: “How can sinful man be justified before a holy God?” Rather it should be understood in the ordinary sense of ‘offering an explanation for’ or ‘giving a rationale for some course of action’. In the current scene, it would appear that the scholar of the law was embarrassed; that is, he had embarrassed himself. He had asked Jesus a question to check out Jesus’ belief and found himself answering the very question he had asked. It was clear that Jesus knew the purpose of the questioning. So, seeking to provide a basis for his original question, he poses the well known query: "And who is my neighbor?" as an implied reason for his first question.

There is, however, another sense in which we use ‘justification.’ It follows directly from the previously explained meaning but is frequently concocted to cover our backside. It is still an ‘explanation for’ or a ‘rationale for some course of action;’ but it’s purpose is to conceal the truth or make the truth appear other than it really is. Unfortunately, this type of justification shows up all too often, especially in the realm of one’s spiritual life. It is the justification which sets aside Sunday attendance at Mass because it’s been a hard week. It’s the justification which, on the surface, invites the fullness of the Spirit, but would claim that now is not a good time. It is the justification which convinces us that we don’t have time to spend with God — at least not right now. It is the justification which denies our participation in the gifts of the Spirit because we are not ‘worthy.’

If I had chosen to be a psychiatrist, I would probably have been well entrenched in that school of thought which affirms that the only meaningful answers to the issues which come up in life are the answers we find within ourselves. Clearly, that must not be taken as an absolute. As if nothing outside ourselves contributes. Sometimes the spoken words of an associate, the incident portrayed in a play, an academic study of some common issue, a shared account of another’s experience — any one of the these or a hundred other possibilities may give us clarity where, before, there was only confusion.

But I’m not a psychiatrist. My interest, my training and at least a portion of my background have led me to one form or another of religious education and I find that my school of thought is the same: the only meaningful answers to the issues which come up in our spiritual life are the answers we find within ourselves. Only occasionally does the spirit indulge in more dramatic means of getting someone’s attention.

A few centuries ago a guy named Jeremiah recorded these words of the Lord:

I will put my law within them, and I will write it upon their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. (Jeremiah 31:33)

It would seem that there is no justification for not connecting with what the Lord would have us do to grow closer to him. He has placed that knowledge within and will even explain it in detail if we our honest with him and ourselves and don’t seek to rationalize our way to being content.