DAILY GRACE
March 20, 2020, Friday in the Third Week of Lent
Hello again everyone!
As I said in my post yesterday, in light of the strange new world we are now living in I thought it would be good to send out to you all a bit of “Daily Grace.” My prayer is that you will find these offerings helpful in these days of COVID-19 anxiety.
Sincerely,
Pastor Dave Gilbert
Scripture: Mark 12:28-34
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.
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Meditation
“Which commandment is the first of all?”
Many people love the opportunity to speak with an important or famous person. We remember the day, what the occasion was, the details of the event, what the person said. We might even have a photo of it that we take out and show people.
The scribe in today’s Gospel seems to have felt this way about meeting Jesus. He had heard of Jesus and must have been pleased to have the privilege of asking him a question. Unlike many others in the Gospel, this scribe is not trying to find something of which to accuse Jesus. The scribe might have been a little “star-struck,” but he was genuinely interested in Jesus’ response. Imagine how he fixed his attention on Jesus, waiting for his reply. What did he expect Jesus to say? Was he surprised at the answer? Did he have his own opinion before hearing that of Jesus?
Probably other rabbis had responded with the Shema (“Hear O Israel, the Lod our God is one . . .” Deut. 6:4) when asked what the first commandment was. Devout Jews prayed this prayer every day because it contains a central teaching of their faith. We can imagine the scribe nodding his head as Jesus recites the familiar passage. But then, something unexpected happens: Jesus goes on and answers an unasked question. The second commandment? “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Impressed, the scribe confirms what Jesus has stated. Jesus’ final words of approval must have pleased this scribe and touched him greatly: “You are not far from the kingdom of heaven.” If we would enjoy such affirmation from a celebrity or public figure, how much more should we look forward to it from our Lord.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, you are the most significant person of all in my life. Your affirmation of me is so much more important than what anyone else says or thinks. In these anxious times I come to you, for I want to know what you think I should do. I trust that you will enlighten my mind and strengthen my will so that I may live faithfully and wisely. Through it all, through everything, help me to do your Father’s will.
Contemplatio
Jesus, what do you think about ____________ ?