Word to the Wise
Friday, March 28, 2025 - 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]
The Mosaic Law contained at least 613 identifiable precepts, scattered over several books of the Torah (Pentateuch - first five books of the Bible). The scribes were basically the lawyers of the time and considered experts on what God (or Moses) willed. There was more than one school of interpretation and debate about interpretations was common. Could there be some way to give priority or serve as a light in which all the others could be interpreted? In today's gospel account, one of the scribes comes and puts the question to Jesus. When Jesus replies with the commandments to love God and then to love neighbor as oneself, the scribe agrees. The gospel then says, "And when Jesus saw that he [the scribe] answered with understanding, he said to him, "You are not far from the KIngdom of God." (There may be a bit of irony in Jesus' reply because the scribe is standing there right in front of him!)
The Catechism of the Catholic Church contains 2,865 "articles." The Code of Canon Law contains 2414! All of this is in addition to liturgical regulations governing the way the seven sacraments are to be administered. And there is other legislation that involves health care and Catholic practice in different geographic or cultural areas! How do we keep from being completely overwhelmed by all of this? Yes, we do have canon lawyers and theologians. And we have pastoral authorities like the pope and bishops to guide us. But ultimately even they, having hacked through the jungle of law, must come face to face with those two greatest commandments! In the Gospel According to Luke (10:25-37), when a scribe tries to narrow the definition of "neighbor," Jesus responds with the parable of the Good Samaritan! "Go and do likewise!" The measure of our faith is in the way we observe the two greatest commandments. AMEN