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Manila Bulletin devider Opinion devider Jesus saw that he answered with understanding

Jesus saw that he answered with understanding

Published Mar 17, 2023 12:04 am
Today’s Gospel reiterates the Shema (“Listen!”) passage found in Deuteronomy (6:4-5) and the love of neighbor found in Leviticus (19:18). Jesus puts the love of God and the love of neighbor together. These are inseparable. Toward the end of the passage, Jesus commends the scribe whom he addresses with the words, “You are not far from the Kingdom of God” (v 34). Why is this so? The Gospel tells us that Jesus sees how the scribe answers him with understanding. The scribe affirms the fact that the love of God and the love of neighbor are worth more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices. Many scribes in Jesus’ time did not really understand the inseparability of these two commandments. Bereft of understanding, they ended up with empty rituals and failed to face the challenge of practicing social love. Committed Christians are called to advance God’s Kingdom through social love. Do we really understand that the love of God and the love of neighbor are inseparable? How do we participate in the establishment of God’s Kingdom? Do we put so much importance to religious rituals that we fail to practice social love?

Gospel • Mark 12:28-34

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.” 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 him 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.” And no one dared to ask him any more questions. Source: “365 Days with the Lord 2023,” St. Paul’s, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; Fax 632-895-7328; E-mail: [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]); Website: [http://www.stpauls.ph](http://www.stpauls.ph).

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