Not of this world

The texts in the Roman Catholic Lectionary today remind us that the faith of Christians is not of this world. The perfection of God is praised by the psalmist. It is not the usual situation that the precepts which we hold are from the Divine. This is the Gospel. The Good News of forgiveness and compassion from the inspiration of the indwelling Spirit in relationship with the Divine. Paul indentifies the contact with the Divine as a revelation rooted in his relationship with Jesus. The legalism of the religious rulers of Jesus time demanded a clear definition of “neighbour”. Richard Rohr might suggest that they were trying to trap Jesus in duo mode thinking. This is right. This is wrong. However Jesus tells the parable of the Samaritan, sinner by the rules of heritage and culture, who proves to be the “neighbour” who the Law commands to love and be loved. It is not what we expect. It is not what we a comfortable with. It is not of this world!