Labels and More Labels

Especially in this election year, people are labeled—for example, as “conservative,” “liberal,” or “independent.” Food items are labeled with their content, brand names, expiration dates, and other pertinent data. Articles of clothing are labeled with information about size, brand, and fabric content. We might label someone as an “A-student,” or a “cry-baby,” or a ”know-it-all.” Labels can be helpful and informative. They can also be misleading and demeaning. We read labels. We hear labels when others give individuals names. Labels can be subtle or annoying. They can be helpful or detrimental. Occasionally, we might hear of someone being labeled “a Good Samaritan.” That is a good thing, but do we all remember what that really means? How many Samaritans do we know nowadays?

In biblical times, the people who resided in Samaria were considered by Jewish people to be ritually unclean. The Samaritans were outcasts. The passage from Luke’s Gospel read In today’s liturgy, recounts the parable Jesus used to teach about who is one’s “neighbor.” (Luke 10:25-37). A priest, a Levite and a Samaritan each in turn comes upon an injured robbery victim, but only the Samaritan comes to his aid. Jesus taught the law scholar who questioned him that despite his being a demeaned, labeled outcast, the Samaritan was the one who gave mercy and a neighborly example to follow. Mercy is the goal; a “neighbor” is the one who is loving and merciful.

What are our lessons? Perhaps some of the labels we put on people are made too hastily or are too restrictive. So much of our 21^st-century thinking is speedy and influenced by media. Too bad heaven doesn’t have a website we can consult! Yet God is on call all the time if we take the time to pray. We can call upon the Holy Spirit.

We humans are made up of many ingredients. We have talents, upbringing, creativity, past histories, personalities, potentials, educational experiences and opinions. When is the last time we simply prayed to be “Good Samaritans?” Jesus will show us how. Openness to others is important. Forgiveness is not always easy, but Jesus even prayed for those who were crucifying him. (Luke 23:34)

 Let’s try to work on the good ingredients we have listed on our labels of ourselves.

Let us pray, using Romans 12:4-8:

    For as in one body we have many parts, and all the parts do not have the same

   function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ and individually parts of one

   another. Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us

   exercise them: if prophesy, in proportion to the faith; if ministry, in ministering; if

   one is a teacher, in teaching; if one exhorts, in exhortation; if one contributes, in

   generosity; if one is over others, with diligence; if one does acts of mercy, with

   cheerfulness.

   🙏

Painting: The Good Samaritan by Jacob Jordaens, circa 1616. Louvre Abu Dhabi. Public Domain.

 The scripture passage is taken from the New American Bible, Oxford University Press, New York, 1990.

Cf. Catholic Identity: https:/carholicidentity.edu.au

Sharon Krause is a RENEW volunteer whose writing has appeared in several resources for small-group faith sharing. She is a wife, mother, and grandmother residing in Royal Palm Beach, Florida. Over the years, she has served in many parish ministries.