Frederick, Maryland, United States - Daily Mass Reading & Meditation for Friday, 28 March 2014 - Catholic Meditations

Frederick, Maryland, United States - Daily Mass Reading & Meditation for Friday, 28 March 2014 - Catholic Meditations

Meditations: Mark 12:28 One of the scribes came, and heard them questioning together. Knowing that he had answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the greatest of all?”

29 Jesus answered, “The greatest is, ‘Hear, Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one: 30 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.’[a] This is the first commandment. 31 The second is like this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’[b] There is no other commandment greater than these.”

32 The scribe said to him, “Truly, teacher, you have said well that he is one, and there is none other but he, 33 and to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbor as himself, is more important than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.”

34 When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from God’s Kingdom.”

No one dared ask him any question after that.

Footnotes:

a. Mark 12:30 Deuteronomy 6:4-5

b. Mark 12:31 Leviticus 19:18

3rd Week of Lent

You are not far from the kingdom of God. (Mark 12:34)

As encouraging as these words are, they still seem a little limited. Why didn’t Jesus tell this scribe, “You’ve arrived! You have reached the kingdom of God”? It wasn’t that the scribe lacked wisdom. He realized that the commandments to love God and neighbor were greater than any sacrifice or offering. He was faithful to the Law, but he also knew there was more. But Jesus saw that this man was not yet ready for the next step, for the revelation of his divinity. So he left him a tantalizing invitation to keep on looking.

A similar situation happened with another man Jesus met. This fellow had everything, but that was exactly the problem. He was so attached to his possessions that he couldn’t give them up to follow Jesus. Like the scribe, he knew there was something missing in his life. But he wasn’t ready to change, and he walked away sad. As he did with the scribe, Jesus didn’t condemn the man. He looked at him with love and left the door open for him to take the next step (Mark 10:17-22).

Jesus is saying something similar to us today. We know who he is, and we are trying to follow him. But he is calling us further. He is asking us to “persevere in running the race that lies before us” (Hebrews 12:1). It’s a long race that calls for patience, endurance, and fortitude. We don’t want to stop, for then we can miss the next opportunity for grace and growth that God has in store for us. And if there’s one thing we can say for certain about our heavenly Father, it’s that he always has more for us. As one spiritual writer put it, “We are always only at the beginning of love.”

Perhaps the most important thing to realize is that Jesus is pleased with you right now. Like a good coach, he sees how much you’ve already done, and he is proud of you! He is committed to the same thing you are. He wants to see you overcome that next hurdle, hit that new goal, and get that much closer to the finish line. He is committed to taking you there. Just stay with him every day, and keep your eyes fixed on him!

“Lord, give me eyes of faith to see that you are always with me. I have nothing to fear, for you will never let go of me.” Amen.

Hosea 14: 2 Take words with you, and return to Yahweh.

    Tell him, “Forgive all our sins,

    and accept that which is good:

    so we offer our lips like bulls.

3 Assyria can’t save us.

    We won’t ride on horses;

    neither will we say any more to the work of our hands, ‘Our gods!’

    for in you the fatherless finds mercy.”

4 “I will heal their waywardness.

    I will love them freely;

    for my anger is turned away from him.

5 I will be like the dew to Israel.

    He will blossom like the lily,

    and send down his roots like Lebanon.

6 His branches will spread,

    and his beauty will be like the olive tree,

    and his fragrance like Lebanon.

7 Men will dwell in his shade.

    They will revive like the grain,

    and blossom like the vine.

    Their fragrance will be like the wine of Lebanon.

8 Ephraim, what have I to do any more with idols?

    I answer, and will take care of him.

    I am like a green cypress tree;

    from me your fruit is found.”

9 Who is wise, that he may understand these things?

    Who is prudent, that he may know them?

    For the ways of Yahweh are right,

    and the righteous walk in them;

    But the rebellious stumble in them.

Psalm 81:6 “I removed his shoulder from the burden.

    His hands were freed from the basket.

7 You called in trouble, and I delivered you.

    I answered you in the secret place of thunder.

    I tested you at the waters of Meribah.”

Selah.

8 “Hear, my people, and I will testify to you,

    Israel, if you would listen to me!

9 There shall be no strange god in you,

    neither shall you worship any foreign god.

10 I am Yahweh, your God,

    who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.

    Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.

11 But my people didn’t listen to my voice.

    Israel desired none of me.

14 I would soon subdue their enemies,

    and turn my hand against their adversaries.

17 But Israel I will feed with the finest wheat,

I will satisfy them with honey from the rock.”

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