Gospel: Mark 12, 28-34If the rabbis of Jerusalem had one central conversation and discussion at the corner coffee shop near the temple, it was this—of the 613 commandments of the Law, which of them are the more important ones? How could all of these rules and laws and regulations be applied to everyday situations? How should they be interpreted?
Even in our day, the debate continues. What is most important to be a Christian? What doctrine or bible passage is key to our salvation? Is it being born again? Is it scripture or tradition? Today, in our discipleship, what is most important, most essential, to be a Christian?
The scribe in the gospel does not ask Jesus to prioritize the commandments, their application, or show how they can be interpreted. The scribe asked Jesus simply, of all 613 laws, what is most important? The answer must have been as startling and shocking as it was profound.
Jesus quotes from the Shema—the most sacred ethical precept in Judaism. The Lord is our God, the Lord alone! (Deut 6:4) And the next verse continues: Therefore, you shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength (Deut 6:5). What is meant here is that love of God must be a total response without distraction or competition. When Jesus said this, every Jew would have nodded their head, everyone would agree.
Then, Jesus goes on, You shall love your neighbour as yourself. Again, Jesus takes a quotation from the Old Testament, the book of Leviticus. But, Jesus did one more thing. In its original context, “neighbour” only meant fellow Jews. It did not include the Gentiles, whom it was quite possible to hate. “Neighbour” now, had no qualifications and no limits.
You can say all you want how much you “love God,” but the only way to demonstrate love for God is by showing love for others…all others…no exceptions, no exclusions…no fine print at the bottom of the page.
These two commandments cannot be separated. Jesus is telling us, if you see a brother or sister in need, and refuse action and compassion, how can you even think that you love God? And, you cannot “pick” and “choose” who your neighbour is. There are no limits, no exclusions.
How do you love God? Do you love God by praying or meditating? Do you love God by kneeling for a long time? Do you love God by appreciating a sunset or the beauty of a Namibian landscape? Do you love God by burning incense and chanting psalms and nice candles? Do you love God by reading the bible? Do you love God by suffering though a long homily? I suspect that the love of God could be found in any one of these actions. But, Jesus is so clear today, that the most immediate way to love God is to love one another. Ok, how?
How do you love your neighbour? It could be sharing your food with the hungry, providing clothing to those without, visiting the lonely or someone in prison, surprising someone with a visit, reading a story to a child, welcoming new neighbours, comforting someone sick or dying, helping someone cope with loss or tragedy. I would suspect that most of us here today would agree with these, and many do these things. But, as always, Jesus asks more. “Neighbour” has no limitations.
Will you forgive and love the spouse who intentionally hurt you, or cheated on you? Will you love the colleague who embarrassed or humiliated you in front of others? Will you visit the thief in prison who robbed your home? Will you comfort the terrorist who killed your family? Will you clothe the soldier who raped your daughter? “Neighbor”, you see, has no exceptions.
Do you really love God? Then we must love one another.
Until we fully understand and embrace this truth, this teaching of Jesus, we cannot understand the events of the next few days.
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