RBWords

     There is an amusing quote from an old seminary professor that goes like this:  "As our Lord said,...and rightly so!"  It may seem strange to us for the scribe to assume the role of a superior expert to Jesus!  But that was what scribes did for a living.  They were experts in the text of the Mosaic Law.  In a society where few people could read, just the ability to read gave power.  When that ability was linked to religious matters, the power could be considerable.  The abuse of that power is what brought Jesus into conflict with some of the scribes.  In this encounter, however, we discover that not all scribes were "bad guys."  This scribe, in particular, showed "understanding" in his words.  Jesus then says something that is a wonderful, but also ironic, compliment:  "You are not far from the Kingdom of God."  I would guess not, since the "Kingdom" is standing personally right there!

     The scribe showed that his priorities were rightly ordered.  Religious observance has its place in the life of faith.  Ritual behavior is more than just liturgical behavior as Jesus points out elsewhere in his conflicts with the Pharisees.  There are 631 precepts in the Mosaic Law.  If equal importance were to be given to each of those, all sense of perspective would be lost.  This tendency to make all "laws" equal has its counterpart in our own church and time.  I have witnessed arguments about liturgy and devotions that were unedifying, to say the least.  Some regard anything less than complete rubrical exactitude to be sinful and disloyal to the Pope, etc. etc.  Others display a casual disregard for integrity in ceremonial matters that is equally disturbing.  But what is even more disturbing than those two "poles" is the loss of a sense of the love of God and neighbor that should be the primary motivation of ALL religious "observance."  We have much to learn from that scribe about getting close to the "Kingdom."   AMEN