“Not far”
By Rev. Michael Stonhouse
Meditation – Sunday, November 3, 2024
Mark 12: 28-34 (Forward, p. 5) CEV p. 1044
Apparently, trying to summarize or sum up the demands of the Law of Moses was a frequent matter of debate among learned circles at the time of Christ. And so, one of these expects, a teacher of the Law, when he’d seen Jesus beat the Sadducees at their own game, came up to Jesus with a test question of his own. (Now, whether this was asked in sincerity or to put Jesus ‘on the spot’, we will never know.)
We do, however, know Jesus’ answer as it has come down to us through the centuries as the Summary of the Law. (Often incorrectly labeled as the Shema when the Shema is actually only its first phrase.) It is an excellent summary as it encapsulates aptly both our duty to God and our duty to our neighbour:
-to love God with all our being (heart, soul, mind & strength).
-and to love our neighbour, as much or in the same way as we love
ourselves.
It is an incredible undertaking, a daunting challenge to say the least to try to accomplish this and here our teacher of the Law affirms Jesus in His answer. In fact, he says that ‘these commandments are more important than all the sacrifices and offerings that we could possibly make’ (verse 33).
To this, Jesus has only one comment, but a most telling one at that. He says to the man, “You are not far from God’s kingdom.” Now, that is most significant. Jesus doesn’t say that he has entered the kingdom, no, just that he is ‘not far.’ In other words, he knows the key, knows what it takes, but hasn’t made use of that knowledge. And here’s the nub—whether the teacher of the Law realizes it or not: it is impossible, relying on human strength and ability alone, to accomplish these two commandments. We simply cannot love God with our entire beings, heart, mind, soul and strength, as we will always have divided affections, trying to love other things instead. And furthermore, our love for others will never quite measure up to our love for ourselves, as self-concern, self-interest (read it selfishness) will always come to the forefront first. And so the nub is this, namely to even hope to live up to these commandments requires the help of Almighty God—and our trust and reliance upon Him. So, the man is ‘not far’, but not there. Hopefully, none of us are in his shoes, having instead placed our hope and trust in God so that we can indeed do as He requires.
Forward notes: “’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” (verses 30-31).
“Love is the most potent force in the world: stronger than hate, or fear, or evil, or any darkness. Love has the power to shape and transform our lives.
“If we love God, truly love, as Jesus asks, with everything we have, then we will be changed by it. The force of that love will shape our lives, relationships, and interactions. I think that’s why it’s the greatest commandment. When we start from a place of love, everything else falls into place. Starting from a place of love makes it inconceivable to cause hurt or pain to another of God’s creatures.
“Though it might sound hard to love God in this way— with everything we have—we can start where we are. Love grows. So, start small. Love God with everything for just a few minutes. Or, love God with a little part of you for today. And then, trust. Love grows.”
Moving Forward: “Read all of today’s scripture readings. Before and after each one, offer your whole self—and all of your love—to God.”
A concluding note: I feel that I need to spell out just a bit what truly ‘loving God’ entails. It implies far more than just warm feelings, feelings of good will toward God. It implies wanting to honour Him above all else in our lives and wanting to do His will, carry out His will, and obey Him, in everything we think, say, or do. That is a mighty order, and yes, it is something that we can tackle bit by bit, incrementally, and thereby grow in it. Thanks be to God.