Word to the Wise
Sunday, November 4, 2012 - 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time - B
[Deut 6:2-6; Heb 7:23-28; 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 with 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."
We live in an information-obsessed age! Indeed, there is a situation now that is commonly called "information overload!" in which one has too much to digest and unable to get "the big picture." Older folk like me might use the older expression, "Losing sight of the forest because of all the trees!" Jesus often criticized the scribes and the Pharisees for this problem. The scribes (who were not necessarily Pharisees, but often "allied" with them) were men who knew how to read and write and handled much of the bureaucratic side of life in society were, by that very fact, powerful people. When this power was connected to religious law, as it was in Jesus' day, it could lead to abuses often mentioned by Jesus. [cf. next Sunday's gospel scripture]. In our own time, we may encounter folks like that who know the catechism but not the faith! Information may mean power, but not always for good.
However, in the encounter we hear about in today's gospel scripture, we meet a scribe with "understanding." He knows where the priority should be placed among the 613 precepts of the Mosaic Law. His encounter with Jesus is really a "professional" one. He addresses Jesus as 'teacher.' ["Rabbi"] This could very well be a test of some kind, since Jesus was not known to be a scribe and yet showed knowledge of the law on his own authority and was not known to have attended any kind of "school." We may recall a similar encounter in the Gospel of Luke [10:25-37] which results in Jesus' parable of the 'Good Samaritan.' The encounter today ends with a wonderful line, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." There is irony here, because the scribe is standing right in front of "the King," as it were. But the scribe has not quite made it all the way because he still sees Jesus as 'rabbi' and not as Lord!
Among the gifts that we receive from the Holy Spirit are "understanding" and "counsel." We need both of these. Knowledge or information alone can blind us to faith if all we have is data! We can share that faith in a way that doesn't become oppressive with its requirements or manipulative in its ways. We will see the contrast next Sunday in a vivid way. This evening I will begin a retreat for diocesan priests and my "theme" is "The Scribe and the Widow! Understanding and Self-giving!" I'm hoping I can bring "understanding" to them so that they may better see what the Widow is offering! AMEN