Word to the Wise
Friday, March 17, 2023 - 3rd Week of Lent - Fri
[Hos 14:2-10 and Mark 12:28b-34]One of the scribes came to Jesus and asked him, "Which is the first of all the commandments?" Jesus replied, "The first is this: Hear O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these. [Mark]
There are 613 precepts in the Law of Moses! The scribes, who were the lawyers of the time, debated which of the precepts were more important. When the scribe in today's gospel scripture from the Gospel According to Mark asks Jesus about this, the reply is given above. In Wednesday's gospel from Matthew, there was an emphasis on the importance of the Mosaic Law, but later on in that same gospel, the reply in today's gospel from Mark is repeated. All the precepts of the Mosaic Law were to be understood in the light of love of God and neighbor.
In the season of Lent, it could be helpful to ask ourselves if these two commandments of love of God and neighbor are the ones that we use for examining our lives and consciences. We could use them to evaluate any policy of church or civil government, for that matter. Despite the compliment paid to Jesus by the scribe in today's gospel ("Well said, teacher..."), Jesus' emphasis gained him the hostility of Pharisees, scribes, chief priests and elders. Could it have been because an emphasis on love is a threat to an emphasis on power? Jesus' emphasis cost him his life. Is it worth ours? AMEN