An enemy savior
- Anderson Cruz
- Jan 9, 2023
- 3 min read
The most intimate people are the ones who disappoint us the most due to the fact that we create high expectations of reciprocity...
There is a biblical passage that can help us reflect on how surprised we can be when we are helped by those we least expect. Often, the most intimate people are the ones who disappoint us the most because we create high expectations of reciprocity from them. It seems like an inversion of values to those who seek to relate to those who most please their critical faculty. However, do expectations bring us affective illusions?
In the Gospel, according to Luke, chapter 10, Jesus is asked by a Jewish authority about the criteria for receiving eternal life. A doubt that was perhaps the most common at that time among the people of Israel, given the talk that arose since John the Baptist, who preached about the need to share one's belongings with the most needy.
The record of this dialogue between Jesus and the doctor is striking. It is one of the most read passages in religious temples, even though it is one of the least understood.
Before telling a famous parable, Jesus answered him with two important questions:
"What is written in the law? How do you read it?". (Verse 26).
Note that he divided two perceptions: the writing of the law and the interpretation of it.
He was about to show that some traditions, lived for centuries, needed a holistic look for everyone to understand the perception that religion was not a criterion for the desired salvation.
The doctor of the law quoted replied citing the necessary love of God and ended by saying:
“... And your neighbor as yourself”. (Verse 27).
Jesus told him to go his way and do as it was written. However, the questioner wanted to know who should be his neighbor, mentioned in the law.
From there, Jesus left the parable of the Good Samaritan:
“A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him, and having beaten him, went away, leaving him half dead. Occasionally he would go down the same path as a certain priest; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. Likewise also a Levite, when he came to that place, and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, who was going on a journey, came to him and, seeing him, moved with deep compassion; And approaching, bound up his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them; and putting him on his own animal, he brought him to an inn, and took care of him; And, leaving the next day, he took out two denarii, and gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, Take care of him; and whatever else you spend, I will repay you when I return”. (Verses 30 a 34).
The story had an impactful outcome and surprised everyone who was listening. All because – in the story – the character who helped the injured Jew was not another Jew, but a Samaritan.
Jesus asked the doctor who was the “neighbor” of the one who had fallen and he, disappointed, said:
"The one who showed mercy to him". (Verse 37).
As you may know, Samaritans were viewed as enemies by the Jews and therefore treated as Gentiles (this is how the Samaritans viewed the Jews). Their relationships were based on power struggles since the death of King Solomon, which impacted listeners even more. Those in Samaria were to Jews like people today who are called “backslidden” or “worldly” by many who are part of Christianity and see the liturgy as their spiritual compass.
The Samaritan in the story did what most Jews were not prepared to do, as the Jewish traditions of that time were manipulated by alienating leaders who made their people a means of wealth. Kindness, charity, forgiveness, love and understanding were not practices of interest to those who wore priestly robes.
Here is a question:
Why did Jesus insert an "enemy" into the parable to help the bloodied Jew?
Therein lies the essence of his gospel. Through this scenario, he showed that kindness should be extended to anyone within our reach and not just those in our community. Being part of a Christian religion does not mean having the practices that Christ taught, because for that an interpretation according to his eyes is necessary.
The gospel brings us the following thought:
A human being should be important like any other, regardless of social class, color, gender, education, nation and religion.
He revealed the good news outside the religious field. Therefore, it should not be institutionalized, because then it will not be gospel.
Anderson Cruz.
Writer, therapist and graduate student in philosophy.
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