GOSPEL REFLECTION, FRIDAY, 3RD WEEK OF LENT, 13 MARCH 2026

Mark 12:28b-34.  Jesus had many debates with religious figures of his day.  In this chapter he has been in debate with the Pharisees, but also with the Sadducees who did not share religious beliefs with the Jewish people.  Most of the time debate with the Pharisees was fractious because they were constantly testing Jesus, often trying to trick him into giving an answer they could use to condemn him.  In this case, Jesus is debating with the Sadducees, answering them well, but a scribe (interpreter of the Law) intervened, asking Jesus, “which commandment is first of all?” (v. 28).  In other words, what commandment takes precedence over all others because it is the basis of all others?  Jesus answered with his summary of the Law, as many call it: “the first is, you shall love the Lord you God with all you heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.  The second is this, ‘you shall love your neighbour as yourself.’  There is no other commandment greater than these” (vv. 29-31).  Then the questioning scribe praised Jesus, agreeing with him.  Jesus replied, ‘you are not far from the Kingdom of God.’

There we are: a key to the Kingdom is Jesus’ summary of the Law, which commands us to Love God above all, along with a command to love our neighbour – and note – to love ourselves too as a gift of God himself.  Other rabbis through the ages had said similar things, it is true, but almost always cited only one of the commands – love God, or love your neighbour, without putting the two together.  In all his authority, Jesus had pronounced a summary of the Law which was the basis for all others, for he is our lawgiver as well as our Prophet.  His reply to the scribe – ‘you are not far from the Kingdom’ – is a charter principle of the Kingdom that Jesus taught.  We too are commanded by it – it is not optional, despite our failure so often at living it.  Lent is a good time to reflect yet again on Jesus’ commandment of love and our relation to it.