Theological
dialogue continues as yet another question is put to Jesus. This time the
questioner is identified as one of the scribes, and it is stated that he was
impressed by Jesus’ answers. Therefore, we can suppose that this was a genuine
question rather than, as has been the case with several others, an attempt to
trip up Jesus and get him to incriminate himself by saying something unacceptable.
The question is
about the commandments, one of the fundamentals of the faith. Which
commandment is the first of all? Jesus begins with the Shema. This prayer quotes
Deuteronomy 6:4-5 and is one of the fundamental expressions of Jewish belief. Hear,
O Israel: The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. You shall love the Lord your God
with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. This
was recited by every Jew as part of both morning and evening prayers.
But Jesus then
proceeds to answer a question that, arguably, has not been asked as he identifies
the second commandment. In doing this he cites Leviticus 19:18 – you shall not
take vengeance or bear a grudge against any of your people, but you shall love
your neighbour as yourself: I am the Lord.
Surely the point
is that these two are inseparable. Megan McKenna (On Your Mark: Reading Mark in the Shadow
of the Cross) summarises this – “Jesus’ proclamation
states clearly that love of God and love of others cannot be separated.
Indifference to others in need is indifference to God. Because of the
incarnation, Jesus becoming one of us, all human beings are one in the
sacrament of obedience to God. What we do or don’t do for others, we do or don’t
do for God.”
The scribe recognises the truth of Jesus’
answer and says so. He can see the importance of these two and that they are
linked, but also that they are more important than all the details of religious
practice that can become the priority of those who claim to be entirely committed
to God. In brief, loving your neighbour is more important than offering the prescribed
sacrifice. Jesus, in turn, recognises that this man is well on track towards a
proper understanding of God’s Kingdom values. I wonder how we identify those
who are our neighbour and how we engage with them.
Now, for the moment, there are no more
questions for Jesus.
No comments:
Post a Comment