Word to the Wise
Friday, March 9, 2018 - 3rd Week of Lent - Fri
[Hos 14:2-10 and Mark 12:28b-34]FRIDAY, MARCH 9, 2018. FRIDAY IN THE THIRD WEEK OF LENT [Hosea 14:2-10 and Mark 12:28-34] 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 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." [Mark] The Mosaic Law contained 613 precepts including, but certainly not limited to, the Ten Commandments! We know that Jesus was questioned by the experts in this law about which ones were to be considered more important. On one occasion, the question resulted in the parable of the Good Samaritan [Luke 10:25-37]. On this occasion, the result is a bit surprising because Jesus often criticized the scribes. But he sees the sincerity of this scribe and says something we would all like to hear: "You are not far from the Kingdom of God." There may be some unintentional irony here since the scribe was standing right in front of Jesus! However, it is the faith and good will that Jesus recognizes. I can remember from my boyhood so many years ago that my Protestant friends and relatives commented on all the rules that Catholics were supposed to follow. It was never a matter of deciding which ones were more important. They all seemed important and locked up under sin and penalty. There were historical reasons for all this, and many folks were bewildered when some of these observances were done away with or relaxed (remember the fish on Friday rule year round and not just in Lent, or the fasting from midnight rule for receiving communion?). Jesus' priority of love of God and neighbor could disappear underneath the efforts to be an observant Catholic! We still have plenty of "Catholic" observances to identify us, but one would hope that our love of God and neighbor would be the first thing that people notice about us. That will attract people first. The rest can be learned as long as we stay close to the Kingdom of God. AMEN
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