Word to the Wise
Friday, March 16, 2012 - 3rd Week of Lent - Fri
[Hos 14:2-10 and Mark 12:28b-34]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 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 understandin, he said to him, "You are not far from the Kingdom of God."
Jesus' statement to the scribe, "You are not far from the kingdom of God" could have an interesting double significance: physical and spiritual. The physical significance lies in the fact that the scribe is standing right there in front of Jesus! The spiritual significance lies in the "understanding" that Jesus perceives in the scribe. The scribe has an understanding of the central meaning of the Mosaic Law, but also, unintentionally, of the message of Jesus! There remains only the gift of faith! The scribe's faith in God is strong but there remains the final step of accepting the kingdom of God in the person of Jesus!
That final step is bigger for some than for others. The scribe could only recognize Jesus respectfully as "teacher." Our brothers and sisters of the other two great Abrahamic faiths - Judaism and Islam - are in that position. Although their recognition of Jesus as a "Teacher," or "prophet" brings them "close to the Kingdom of God", the final step of faith in Jesus is more than a step. It is a giant leap. This may be even greater for those of Buddhist or Hindu faith. Nevertheless, we Christians must recognize whatever closeness there may be. We all have much to learn from one another about God. AMEN