"Go and do likewise."
Luke 10:37
I woke early this morning to catch a train to London, but with the 100 km/h winds from the day before, all trains and public transport were cancelled due to trees collapsing everywhere. By 2 pm, I was brain-dead from tiredness. So, I decided to sloth it in front of the YouTube rabbit hole and let the algorithms decide for me which clips I would embrace. First up was a Guinea pig lying on a blanket above a piano, sleepy-eyed, and absorbing Debussy. Next, I was moved by a high school graduation, resisting the urge to clap out of respect for a sound-sensitive student with autism.
Image generated with the assistance of Microsoft Word
Then I was transported into the courtroom of Rhode Island Judge, Frank Caprio. In the heart of Providence, Rhode Island, amidst the Italian American enclave of Federal Hill, Judge Frank Caprio's story begins with the humblest of origins. His father, Antonio, a steadfast fruit peddler and milkman, embodied the ethic of challenging work, and his mother, Filomena, a nurturing presence as a stay-at-home mother. This backdrop of familial dedication and modesty profoundly influenced Frank in his early years, where he earned pocket money as a shoe-shine boy.
Frank's educational journey took him to the halls of Suffolk University School of Law in Boston, where, amid the rigors of legal studies, he also taught and juggled various jobs, a testament to his indefatigable spirit. Since 1985, he has served in the municipal court where his approach—marked by empathy and an unwavering respect for the human spirit—has captured the hearts of people around the world.
It was his unique, empathetic approach to adjudication that propelled him into the national spotlight, with his proceedings on the show "Caught in Providence" becoming a conduit for viral internet fame. Here, viewers found a judge who prioritized understanding over judgment, compassion over censure—principles not often spotlighted in the judicial world.
For those drawn to the life and work of Judge Caprio, his story can be further explored through his official website or through episodes of "Caught in Providence," where his judicial philosophy plays out in real-time, offering a window into a career punctuated by genuine care and integrity—a beacon of how law, when wielded with humanity, can be a profound force for good.
I was deeply moved by his mercy and compassion. Having spent many years in a religious organization that failed to be embedded in mercy and compassion, I watched all this with regret. Regret because compassion and mercy are hallmarks of Christianity.
But there is a bigger picture to be absorbed in the example of Judge Frank Caprio. What makes three million subscribers subscribe to the channel "Caught in Providence"? The love of mercy and compassion.
We humans are all made in God’s image; some move away from that light, and some bend towards the arc of compassion. Jesus reflected that Godly quality in life and his teaching. Consider the woman at the well, the Good Samaritan, the Prodigal son, and the centurion’s servant’s child.
We don’t have the God-given powers that Jesus had, but we do have the power of compassion and mercy.
One day, a lawyer came to test Jesus by asking what he must do to inherit eternal life. Jesus turned the question back to the lawyer, who answered correctly with the command to "love God" and "love your neighbor as yourself." Wanting to justify himself, the lawyer asked, "And who is my neighbor?" In response, Jesus told the parable of the Good Samaritan:
A man traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho was attacked by robbers who stripped him, beat him, and left him half dead. A priest and then a Levite passed by, but both avoided the man by crossing to the other side of the road. Then a Samaritan came along. Despite Samaritans and Jews despising each other, the Samaritan was moved with compassion. He bandaged the man’s wounds, using his own oil and wine as antiseptics, and placed the man on his own donkey. He took him to an inn and cared for him overnight. The next day, he paid the innkeeper two denarii and promised to cover any additional costs on his return journey.
After telling the story, Jesus asked the lawyer, "Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?" The lawyer replied, "The one who had mercy on him." Jesus then said, "Go and do likewise."
This parable emphasizes that compassion should transcend social boundaries and prejudices, and that to "love your neighbor" means to act with mercy and kindness to anyone in need.
I find those words of Jesus moving. First because we are called to act likewise. And second, finally of life, we will find ourselves before a compassionate judge.
Luke 10:25-37 (BSB).
Caught In Providence - YouTube