What is good?
This is undoubtedly a very philosophical and perplexing question. It is a question that no one can answer in exactly the same way as another, yet everyone can offer their own answer.
Goodness is, in fact, something that is very complex and multifaceted.
It can be described as divine grace, the nature that blooms from the depths of the human heart, or even as a glimmer of hope that allows us not to forsake humanity.
In this way, ordinary people dare not make a definitive statement about it, yet they thrust their immature standards forward and say this.
To say something is good is to conform to moral standards.
To say something is good is to be the opposite of evil, existing at the antipode to it.
To say something is good is to act according to one’s conscience.
All of these statements are correct. They are correct, but…
“Isn’t that too vague?”
The meaning does not narrow down to one. If goodness is explained in such simplistic terms, it becomes a vague and verbose description that lacks substance.
Then, can humanity not comprehend the true meaning of goodness? Is it truly in the realm of the divine?
Is it a challenge to the divine realm for all humanity to become good? And is it thus that humanity, as a price for challenging the divine realm, cannot eradicate evil?
My answer is no.
Goodness is not a realm of the divine. It is not an ambiguous existence, nor is it something that can be elaborated upon in a meandering or verbose manner.
Goodness is rooted in reason.
Is further explanation needed? What springs from reason is goodness, and what also springs from reason is evil.
“The Lord did not bestow goodness upon humanity long ago.”
What the Lord bestowed was not goodness. It is not merely because humanity has been engulfed by evil, and the Lord could not be unaware of that.
What we have been given is upright reason.
A reason that does not sway in the face of others, and is guided solely by faith at the crossroads.
Do you worship knowledge? If so, your reason will waver according to the variance of knowledge.
Do you worship divinity? If so, your reason will waver in accordance with your faith and compassion towards the Lord.
Do you worship yourself?
If so, trust in yourself. Reason will come into harmony with you.
“Distinguishing between good and evil arises from the judgment made by one’s own reason.”
I slowly raised my head and scanned the dimly lit auditorium filled with hundreds of golden flowers gently illuminating the space. The students solving the exam papers had just now resolved the first question.
A product of exquisitely mixing divine power and illusion magic, yet seeing it with my own eyes, it was truly a sight to behold.
There was merit in the effort spent day and night with Professor Esther. The exam required intensity beyond merely scribbling with a pen.
Something so intense that it would not be forgotten for a lifetime. Something that would shake one’s reason.
What I had chosen was the very proof of faith that I had shown to students at the beginning of the semester. It utilized the flower of creation.
The students stared blankly at the flower of creation that bloomed on their individual exam papers. As I looked at those students, I thought.
“It is still too early to be moved.”
Only by passing the exam I prepared will they reach the inherent truth buried within faith. It is something anyone can stretch out their hand and grasp, but far too many people today have forgotten the very method of extending that hand.
Even among the professors of theology, the situation is the same. I clenched my fists and examined the faces of the students one by one.
“It took a long time, but I succeeded in drawing forth their reason.”
There was not a single student whose paper did not have a flower blooming on it. If so, it was time to move on to the next step.
“Show me.”
Please, in front of me.
And, in front of yourselves.
“Prove that goodness.”
The goodness determined not from the teachings of the Bible, but entirely by pure reason.
Show it to me.
…
“…Neighbor.”
Laura stared for quite some time at the second question that appeared on her exam paper. For a long time, so long that she lost track of how much time had passed and was completely absorbed.
It was not that she did not know the answer. It was that she had not yet understood the question she needed to answer.
Considering Laura’s character, it was quite a frustrating situation, yet she showed no such demeanor at that moment. On the contrary, her eyes were filled with curiosity as she carefully scrutinized the question.
[“You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”]
“Love your neighbor as yourself… This is a passage I saw in the Bible.”
Yes, that phrase was certainly one she had read countless times in the Bible and other texts. Laura couldn’t recall exactly from which section the phrase came, but she was certain that she had seen this particular passage.
“In what situation was that phrase given?”
The problem was that she only had a fleeting memory of reading it but no idea of the context from which it arose.
That was also the reason Laura couldn’t carelessly write down an answer.
[“Who is your neighbor?”]
You shall love your neighbor as you love yourself. So, who is my neighbor to me?
The first thing that came to Laura’s mind, ironically, was her father, Maximilian von Adelheit. Laura unconsciously furrowed her brow.
“…It’s not incorrect, but.”
She did not know how broad the concept of “neighbor” was, but it was not unusual for her to think of Duke Adelheit as someone whom she loves just like herself.
However, the fact that their relationship was not very good due to a recent incident made it all the more uncomfortable for Laura.
It was nearly one-sided rejection on her part, yet the love her father, the Duke, poured onto Laura was genuine.
“What should I write… to be recognized as the right answer?”
Gently brushing the flower of creation that bloomed at the top of the exam paper for the first question, Laura sank into deep thought. Who corresponds to the concept of “neighbor” represented in this problem for her?
“…Should I really write about my father?”
It was not entirely an incorrect answer. Yet, for some reason, it felt like it was not entirely the right answer either.
No, it was a correct answer, but the discomfort of not grasping the examiner’s intention and hitting it at random was overwhelming. The reason why Laura’s pen tip hesitated to write down the Duke’s name was because of that.
“Let’s think. Think….”
You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
What does my neighbor truly mean?
Laura’s brilliant mind began to work busily. In just one second, countless faces of various people flitted through her mind, but none seemed to be an answer she could confidently write down.
Eventually, Laura turned her gaze away from the second question. She believed that to solve such a difficult problem, she needed to understand the examiner’s intention that was operating one level above her.
“…I need to look at the first question.”
She had already grasped the intention behind the first question posed by Professor Antorelli. The correct answer for the first question was likely to write down “the complete form of my true self answered by my inner reason.”
Otherwise, the flower of creation wouldn’t bloom, and the second question wouldn’t have been revealed. Laura firmly believed that her understanding matched the examiner’s intent regarding the first question.
“The complete form of my true self revealed through my inner reason….”
The inner reason revealed…. Inner, reason….
“…Reason.”
Inner reason. It reveals reason.
When reason is revealed, the true self is revealed.
And once that true self is revealed…
“My essence… will be understood. Then….”
At last, she will be able to discern the goodness determined by reason.
If she can reveal the goodness that has been hidden within her, if she can finally face it.
“……!”
Laura’s eyes widened. A shiver ran down her spine as if lightning had flashed by, sending a chill through her.
“Ah…!”
Unconsciously gasping in awe, Laura hurriedly grasped her pen without a moment to worry about the gazes around her. If she didn’t capture this sensation and thought that had just blossomed in her mind immediately, it felt as if it would flow away like water.
She glanced urgently at the exam paper. The second question clearly stood out in her eyes.
[“Who is your neighbor?”]
My neighbor. That is, precisely…
…
Marcello Professor had a complicated mindset.
It was understandable, as he was robbed of over ten minutes on the first question, causing everything he had anticipated about the exam paper to fall apart.
It was shocking that the flower of creation bloomed right after he wrote down the answer to the first question, but…
“That’s that, and this is this.”
The second question blocking Professor Marcello was a deeply profound question that lay dormant.
[“Who is your neighbor?”]
My neighbor. Who indeed is my neighbor?
Unless one is a fool, it would be wrong to respond to the question of who one’s neighbor is in a theology exam with, “My neighbor is Mr. Colin who lives next door. He runs a carpentry shop on the outskirts of the city and makes amazing sandwiches because he usually resolves his own lunches….”
Marcello, being a theology professor himself, was all too aware of this fact.
“I have seen this phrase in the Bible.”
Professor Marcello calmly closed his eyes. Having lost more time than expected on the first question, he had no desire to even waste a moment searching for an answer to the second.
“The Bible… it must be from the Book of Tereas.”
Having lived buried in the Bible and theological texts for decades, a mere moment of thought brought to his mind many verses he had previously read.
“Tereas… Terean and Samaritan….”
And then, suddenly, what flashed into Professor Marcello’s mind was.
“…Tereas 22:19.”
As if it were the blessed light given by the Lord.
The brilliance cascading, filling Professor Marcello’s mind. He recalled that Bible verse.
“A certain Terean priest spoke to test the Lord.”
The Lord said, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
To this, the Lord replied that he was right. Just have faith and act accordingly.
Then the Terean priest, curious, asked, “Who then is my neighbor?”
And the Lord said…
A Terean merchant was traveling to Yagoreah when he was attacked by robbers.
They robbed him of all his belongings, beat him to a pulp, and left him half dead on the side of the road.
A priest happened to be passing by that way but he chose to ignore the merchant and went around.
Another passerby also walked by without even giving the merchant a glance.
Then a Samaritan, who usually did not get along with the Tereans, passed by and saw him and was filled with compassion. He went to him, bandaged his wounds pouring on oil and wine, and put him on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him.
The next day, the Samaritan gave the innkeeper two silvers and said, “Take good care of this man.”
Then, among the three men the merchant met, who became the merchant’s neighbor?
The Lord asked, and the Terean priest replied.
“The one who showed love and kindness to the merchant.”
To this, the Lord said…
“…You go and do likewise.”
Professor Marcello slowly opened his eyes. The second question was still glowing in the golden hue of the flower of creation.
Professor Marcello looked up. His eyes caught the silent figure of Professor Antorelli standing on the podium.
He glanced down at the exam paper again. The problem continued to shine, but it felt particularly bright compared to before.
“You, go and do likewise….”
Professor Marcello took the pen in hand.
“…I will do so.”
There was no hesitation.
– Whoosh—!
The second flower bud bloomed, just like that.
