Ambulance Chasers

Becoming passionate about justice and Jesus

Mark 12:28-34

One of the scribes came to Jesus and asked him, “Which is the first of all the commandments?” Jesus replied, “The first is this: Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.” The scribe said to him, “Well said, teacher. You are right in saying, He is One and there is no other than he. And to love him with all your heart, with all your understanding, with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is worth more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” And when Jesus saw that he answered with understanding, he said to him, “You are not far from the Kingdom of God.” And no one dared to ask him any more questions.

          Lawyers often get a bad rap. And I should know because I am one of them, a church lawyer, or more precisely, a canon lawyer. They are pejoratively portrayed as “ambulance chasers,” looking to make money off someone else’s misery. Have you heard the old joke, “What do you call a plane full of lawyers that crashes and sinks to the bottom of the ocean?” The answer: “A good start.” But all that, I believe, is a gross exaggeration that just plays well on late-night television. Most lawyers are principled and passionate people who defend the rights of individuals and institutions in courts of law. In other words, they care about justice.

          As a prime example, we recently witnessed the passing of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, a Catholic lawyer. His son, Fr. Paul Scalia, delivered the funeral homily. Fr. Scalia began with these words: “We are gathered here because of one man. A man known personally to many of us, known only by reputation to even more; a man loved by many, scorned by others; a man known for great controversy, and for great compassion. That man, of course, is Jesus of Nazareth.” Fr. Scalia went on to explain that his Dad was passionate not only about justice, but also about Jesus. You see, whenever a lawyer serves justice, he really serves Jesus.

          In the gospel today, St. Mark describes the encounter between a scribe – really a Jewish lawyer – and Jesus. The scribe asks Jesus’ opinion about which law is the greatest. In answer, Jesus gives him two great laws: the love of God and the love of neighbor. The scribe-lawyer was pleased with Jesus answer because he was thirsty for the truth. If you take time to read the whole 12th chapter of Mark, you’ll find it is filled Jewish experts and lawyers riddling Jesus with questions, who really were “ambulance chasers,” but not this attorney. And Jesus says to him (in contrast to the others), “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” Every lawyer who serves justice “is not far from the kingdom of God” because they are not far from Jesus.

          Today, ask yourself this question: when I talk to people do I sometimes sound like a lawyer who’s an ambulance chaser? For instance, in your conversations with your spouse or your children or your boss, do you sound like you are you trying a case in court, cross-examining a witness, prosecuting a felon? Do you have to prove your point at all costs? Or, do you humbly admit you might be wrong and your spouse might be right? I mean, what lawyer ever concedes that his or her opponent might be right? That would be a lawyer who really serves justice, and in doing so, really serves Jesus. He or she thirsts for the truth, like the scribe in the gospel.

          Look at it this way: at your funeral Mass, do you want the priest to talk more about you or more about Jesus?

          Praised be Jesus Christ!