TUESDAY OF HOLY WEEK

Rabbi Jesus and his Opponents

One of the scribes came near and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, he asked him, “Which commandment is the first of all?” Jesus answered, “The first is, ‘Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and 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.” Then the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher; you have truly said that ‘he is one, and besides him there is no other’; and ‘to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength’ and ‘to love one’s neighbor as oneself,’—this is much more important than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.” When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” After that no one dared to ask him any question. Mark 12: 28-34

Jesus, the teacher, knew well the ways of rabbinic disputation. He knew well the Scriptures. But more than all of these he knew God. He knew the God of Israel’s past, he knew the God of Israel’s present, and he knew well the God of the world’s future. And he tells us what God commands. And he tells us what the kingdom of God is about. Disputation has ended. Action begins.

How will we love as our teacher instructs?

Rabbi Jesus, teach me to love as God loves, to love with all my being. Rabbi, teach me to love my neighbor—both those I consider loveable and those I think repulsive. Rabbi, bring your kingdom. Amen.