The third question, the third answer.
The third question, “Can you be a neighbor?” carries the intent of applying the measure of ‘goodness’ explored in the previous second question to oneself.
In doing so, a person feels infinitely small.
Truly, it feels as if one has become a wretched existence, even lesser than an ant. Amid the endless shrinking, the grim reality is demonstrated that beyond the darkness, an even darker darkness exists, and the scourging towards oneself does not cease.
Thus, one is buried in the darkness.
It might feel harsh for ordinary students to undergo such a period. Using such a reason, feel free to chastise me. But….
“It is a necessary process.”
Light is born in such a manner.
Splitting the darkness, shining sunlight, overcoming the night, this is how the light is born. It emerges into the world. It breaks free from its shell.
The name of that light, if I may define it, is ‘faithfulness.’
“Professor Marcello.”
I looked at a middle-aged man with graying hair, his head bowed on a desk amidst a forest of desks and chairs in the small auditorium.
He was wandering in the darkness, unable to find the light, looking as if he wanted to hide away in the desk from embarrassment, blaming himself.
“Show your faithfulness, Professor Marcello.”
Professor Marcello’s gaze met mine, albeit for a brief moment. He quickly cast his eyes downward, but I could tell.
“Professor Marcello. Hurry.”
He read the words I wanted to say.
“Show your faithfulness. Quickly…!”
In response to my call to show his faithfulness, he felt the pain of splitting the darkness and groaned.
Thus, Professor Marcello, who was shrinking endlessly with his head bowed, the middle-aged man whose youth, a flame that blazed wildly, was devoted to faith.
– Kachak—!
He proved that faithfulness.
“…Yes.”
I slowly relaxed my tightly clenched fist. The blood that had felt like it was upside down returned to a calm circulation, making my head spin. I surveyed the auditorium slowly.
Chloe, Laura, and my A-class students…. Most of them had bloomed the third flower.
Not only the A-class students. A bit late, but other professors of theology, excluding Professor Marcello, and the remaining students were also slowly and completely blooming their flowers.
My wish for all to bloom the third flower was slowly coming true.
“Well then, now….”
I looked at Sofia Sub-priest. Standing next to me, Sofia Sub-priest was already clasping her hands and praying with her eyes closed tight.
Before my eyes blossomed the primordial flower. Seeing the sight of hundreds of such flowers blooming, the flowers that blossomed from reason, goodness, and faithfulness…. A feeling arises naturally.
Sofia Sub-priest was embracing that.
I shifted my gaze towards the small auditorium and focused on the gently glowing golden desk.
“The proof of goodness is indeed the proof of faithfulness.”
If so, it was now time to show the proof of faithfulness.
This is the final proof. Toward the last stage.
To reach the ‘proof of faith.’
“Is it… done now?”
Laura gently opened her tightly shut eyes. The third flower bud, timidly blooming, was beautifully revealing its face to the world.
“Whew….”
Laura unconsciously let out a sigh of relief. Despite her inner anxiety, she honestly wasn’t sure if what she had written was correct.
Professor Antorelli’s theology exam, the third question. “Are you someone’s neighbor?”
In response, Laura wrote “No.”
There was no need for long contemplation. Laura simply thought that way genuinely.
“That I could be someone’s neighbor…. Of course, I wish it were so….”
She knew better than anyone that it was a difficult thing.
If the definition of neighbor were ambiguous, it would be one thing, but in Professor Antorelli’s exam paper, the concept of ‘neighbor’ was already defined in the second question. Therefore, it was only natural that Laura couldn’t confidently respond to the third question.
For some reason, she felt embarrassed to answer and reluctant to write confidently, yet after writing, she felt a sense of relief.
Laura understood.
The reason was that she had written “the honest answer.”
And because of that, this third beautiful primordial flower was welcoming her.
– Kachak—.
Laura swallowed hard. The third primordial flower, slowly protruding, had entirely blossomed its beautiful curve.
And, the golden hue that followed was something she knew would elevate her to the next stage.
– Swish. Swish.
As the golden light from the third primordial flower settled onto the exam paper, other letters began to appear in the blank space beneath the third question. Laura focused intently on that spot.
[ Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. ]
The first phrase of the fourth question.
Laura blinked her large eyes and gazed intensely at that sentence. Of course, just one sentence alone could not reveal the intent of the problem.
[ What is the way to give love? ]
Immediately, the fourth question appeared before Laura’s eyes.
“…Love?”
It was a word that felt both familiar and, for some reason, exceedingly strange.
In the third question, Professor Antorelli demanded the proof of faithfulness.
Having proven that faithfulness, it was only natural to advance to the next stage.
Professor Marcello slowly calmed the overwhelming breath within himself. The three primordial flowers that bloomed warmly, bringing great warmth, comforted Professor Marcello.
With a lightened heart, Professor Marcello was able to look at the exam paper.
“…Now.”
With the third flower completely in bloom, shining light on the exam paper would unveil the fourth question. Professor Marcello was firmly believing in the illusion brought by that golden hue.
Thus, the golden light, like warm sunlight, settled upon the blank space right below the third question.
[ Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. ]
As before, the familiar verse from the Bible entered Professor Marcello’s sight.
“This is… 1 Peter, verse 3 in chapter 13.”
1 Peter’s verse 3 in chapter 13. After witnessing the glass palace descending from the heavens, Peter, overwhelmed by the blessed grace, received baptism, followed by the words added by Saint Paul based on Peter’s realization.
“This surely meant to act to prove it.”
Without any action, merely preparing one’s mindset cannot prove anything; however, if one fully accepts and acts upon it, it will be proven.
Professor Marcello knew the meaning underlined in this, perhaps better than anyone else, but he had yet to fully grasp Professor Antorelli’s intent hidden in this verse.
The question revealed beneath made it even more confusing for Professor Marcello.
[ What is the way to give love? ]
“Hmm….”
It was a question hard to answer spontaneously. The previous three questions had been challenging, but this question, in particular, was particularly difficult to grasp the underlying intent.
The way to give love. The way to give love….
Love, in essence, is the most blessed thing created by the Lord who dwells in the light, and it is a representative example of following the Lord’s word.
Perhaps others may think differently, but this is how Professor Marcello defines love.
Then, the way to… how to give love…?
How is it to act in accordance with the Lord’s word?
Professor Marcello set down the pen he was confidently holding, slowly closed his eyes.
As had been the case before, he needed to grasp the intent. Why did Professor Antorelli include such questions in the exam paper?
His consciousness slowly sank deeper, and even with eyes shut, the light emanating from the primordial flower stained his sight red and illuminated such thoughts.
“1 Peter, chapter 13, verse 3.”
[ Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. ]
“What does this verse indicate?”
Saint Paul’s teaching to Peter and his following disciples. Why did he say such words?
“Peter’s disciples implore to believe and follow him, yet they witnessed not the glass palace but the cave of rock.”
Then, Paul scolded them harshly and said.
“You, Peter. You have walked the blessed path of the Lord ahead, so why do you allow their wildness to remain?”
To this, Peter replied, “They have followed me through the wilderness.”
To this, Paul said,
“Crossing the wilderness is not belief and following.”
Though they arrived at this Samaritan after crossing the wilderness by following you, they did not face the blessed road but saw the dark beast’s den.
This is because they believe falsely.
“…Ah.”
Again. That sensation.
A feeling as if my head has opened wide, and bright light is shining down upon me enveloped Professor Marcello’s whole body in chills.
“In the first question, I drew out reason; in the second question, I proved goodness; in the third question, I demanded faithfulness…. Therefore, for the fourth….”
Faith.
A steadfast faith that no one can dare touch.
Stronger than the walls of Terea. Be as bold as the heavenly army.
That is, faith.
If one wishes to prove it, by what means do the servants of the Lord prove it?
By attending worship? By praying daily to the Lord, without missing a day? Or perhaps simply by donating offerings?
All are correct and incorrect.
To prove faith is to act.
And, to act is….
“Let all that you do be done in love.”
Another verse from the Bible flashed in Professor Marcello’s mind.
“1 Peter, chapter 13, verse 4….”
This was, surprisingly, the very next verse to the verse presented as the fourth question.
So, is Professor Marcello astonished merely because it follows the content of the Bible?
No. Even without the Bible, this is a question that a person filled with faith can surely answer.
If the way to prove faith is to act….
Then, to act is to do so in love. In other words, to give love.
And, the way is….
“…How.”
Professor Marcello steadied his trembling gaze, looking at the podium.
“How, exactly….”
The still upright Professor Antorelli standing before the podium was reflected in Professor Marcello’s eyes.
“How could the proof of faith, the answer…. be so simple….”
The overwhelming feeling that drenched Professor Marcello’s mind was that of joy.
So incredibly happy and overwhelmed that tears naturally welled up, bursting forth with that abundant internal fulfillment that couldn’t be contained.
“If this is not theology, then what is theology…!”
Professor Marcello picked up the pen. It was to write the answer to the fourth question.
[ What is the way to give love? ]
To give love is the way of proving faith. In other words, it is to show one’s faith by acting.
Professor Marcello began to write that answer down.
[ To be patient. ]
A tremor in his breath trickled through his lips.
[ To be gentle, not envious, not boastful, not proud. ]
The way to give love, it truly is….
[ To not think ill of others. ]
So blindingly bright.
[ To do good. ]
Professor Marcello, here remains the man Marcello. Blessed in the name of Dominico.
[ Therefore, I will. ]
Taking the first step to becoming someone’s ‘neighbor.’
– Kachak—!
Thus, with a faith that acts, it blossoms.
The name of the fourth flower is “faith proven through action.”
