Scripture:
Reflection:
But because he wished to justify himself, he said to Jesus,
And who is my neighbor? -Luke 10:29
Rusty was always “going” where he wasn’t supposed to go. I first met Rusty when my father brought him home. Oh, my poor mother! You see, in the ’50’s, we had categories for everything, at least in our house we did. It was mom’s job to tend the home and the kids and dad’s job to make the money to pay for everything. Both mom and dad were great at those roles. With Rusty showing up, that arrangement started to look shaky.
It all started one early evening after dinner. All the dishes were washed and put away, and we were in the TV room (actually, our dining room that was only used as that when we had company like at Thanksgiving and Christmas). Anyway, we, us kids and mom, were watching some program when suddenly, the back door opened and in bounded Rusty a beautiful young energetic boxer dog, followed by my father who probably had a beer or two too many at Sofie’s, the local tavern before coming home. Forgetting the TV, we kids immediately centered our attention on Rusty, while my mother centered her’s on my father. It was touch and go as to whether Rusty (and probably my father) would stay. Mom finally gave in, and Rusty stayed to become an integral part of our family. Dad was pardoned.
Rusty had a way of going where he wasn’t supposed to, starting with pooping in front of the fireplace one night. The fireplace was in the living room, a room even we as children stayed clear of for that was mom’s special room. That led to Marianne, my older sister training Rusty not to come into the living room.
Rusty also liked to get loose and run down to the butcher, where he would be rewarded by the butcher with a big bone that he proudly carried home and then buried in our backyard. This digging in the backyard, while not good behavior, was at least not as bad as pooping in front of the fireplace. The ultimate offense, however, was Rusty coming down the middle aisle at church one Sunday morning to join us up in the front pew at the 6:30 am Mass we boys would attend with my father. I think my older brother Rog was dispatched to quickly take Rusty back home.
God, free me from narrow categories that limit my ability to say: “Yes to life!” Help me see my neighbor in the gifts you present to me each day, even when they don’t fit, i.e. “I’ve got enough work taking care of seven children, I don’t need another life to watch over!” (my mom); “Dogs must be on a leash!” (my neighbors watching Rusty returning home from the butcher’s); Rusty doesn’t belong in church!” (Immaculate Conception parishioners watching Rog, my older brother taking Rusty home) Yes, help me follow the law as Jesus tells the scholar to do in today’s gospel selection, but especially I pray to see people, pets and plants that don’t seem to fit into my nice, neat, small little world, as neighbors and gifts from You today to help me grow.
Dan O’Donnell is a Passionist Partner and a longtime friend of the Passionists. He lives in Chicago.