Franciscan Friar Fr. Paul Gallagher reflects on the Gospel readings for the Thirty-first Sunday of Ordinary Time. If you were asked what the most important commandment is, what would you say? How is that reflected in the way that you live, pray, and interact with others?
The content is edited by Franciscan Sister of Christian Charity Sister Anne Marie Lom and Joe Thiel. The excerpts from the Sunday readings are prepared by Joe Thiel. To read or download the complete pdf with excerpts for your prayer, please click here Franciscan Gospel Reflection November 3 2024. Excerpts are from the Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States of America, second typical edition © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC. Used with permission. All rights reserved. No portion of this text may be reproduced by any means without permission in writing from the copyright owner. Photo:Wilfredor, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons;Nheyob, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons.
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.” 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.
Background:
The text for last week’s Gospel was Mark’s telling of Jesus healing the blind Bartimaeus, who then joined Jesus “on the way.” This was the conclusion of Mark’s tenth chapter, the eleventh chapter begins with a description of Jesus’ entry to Jerusalem (Mark 11:1-11). The rest of the chapter follows with other events that are leading up to Jesus’ crucifixion: cursing a fruitless fig tree (Mark 11:12-14, 20-25); the chasing of the merchants from the temple (Mark 11:15-19); and the questioning of Jesus’ authority by the Jewish religious authorities (Mark 11:27-33). In chapter twelve Mark describes Jesus telling the parable of tenant farmers who refused to give the owner his share of the harvest (Mark 12:1-12); the Pharisees joining with the supporters of Herod making an effort to trap Jesus with questions about paying taxes (Mark 12:13-17); and the Sadducees trying to embarrass him with questions about life after death (Mark 12:18-27). These encounters lead to Mark’s account of the scribe coming to Jesus with his question about the greatest commandment, which is the text for this Sunday.
In Mark’s account, this scribe approaches Jesus with respect, seeking his opinion. The lack of hostility between Jesus and the scribe stands out given that Jesus has entered Jerusalem, where in a couple chapters Mark will describe Jesus being handed over by the religious leaders and crucified. Jesus’ reply to the scribe is short, direct and to the point. The scribe compliments Jesus’ insights and rephrases Jesus’ teaching in his own words, a gesture of respect. Jesus’ comment recognizes that the scribe is not just restating what he heard, but has made it his own belief: “You are not far from the Kingdom of God.”
Jesus’ response to the scribe’s question is not new. He draws on two texts from the Hebrew Scripture: Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18. While Jesus’ answer draws on texts from the Hebrew tradition, the uniqueness of Jesus’ answer is that he combines two different texts, something that rabbis never did. Those who heard Jesus’ response would also hear it as a call to treat people with the same respect that they treated God. For them, love was not about how one felt, but honor that one showed by one’s action. This point is made even more strongly by the way Jesus and this scribe have been able to treat each other in this dialogue, given the growing tension that is characteristic of others who represent religious and Roman authority.
Reflection Questions:
- Do you find yourself a person who moves toward possibility in adverse situations or one who is disheartened by the situation? How does that affect you?
- Try to put yourself in this scripture passage. Tensions are high. People are talking, wondering what will happen next. Jesus seems to be asking questions more boldly. You see a scribe coming down the path toward Jesus. What would be going through your mind as you see the situation? You listen as the scribe speaks to Jesus. What thoughts go through you? You hear Jesus’ response: first one familiar line… and then a second. What is going through you, how are you feeling? What kind of response from the scribe are you expecting? What do you hear in the scribe’s response? Jesus then speaks again to the scribe. How have their faces changed, the stance, the tone of their voice in this short dialogue? How have you changed as you listen to this conversation?
- If you were asked what the most important commandment is, what would you say? How is that reflected in the way that you live, pray, and interact with others?
- Jesus says the first commandment is, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength,” and the second is, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” As you live your life, is there balance in your love for God and your love for your neighbor?
- Do you love yourself? How is that reflected in your life? How is that a challenge?
- Can you talk with God about your own desire to love God, or your neighbor, or yourself?
