“You are not far from the Kingdom of Heaven”

Rev. Marcel Divine Emeka Okwara CSsR

Homily for the 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B

St. Gerard Majella Church

Baton Rouge, Louisiana 

November 4, 2012

Scribes in the time of Jesus were men specially trained in writing. Most of their duties involve writing legal documents, recording deeds, copying scriptures, and teaching people. Scribes specialized in the interpretation of the Jewish Law (Torah), and were sometimes regarded as “lawyers.” They were as influential as the Pharisees or the Sadducees. The Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles portray them as opponents of Jesus who sought to kill him and opponents of the early Christians. But there were some scribes who were neutral; some were even praised by Jesus. One of such scribes is in the Gospel we read today: Mark 12:28b-34) 

The name of this scribe is not mentioned in the gospel. Though he was a highly learned and educated man- he knew the Law; he wrote about the law; he interpreted and taught the law to others- yet, in the abundance and the immensity of his knowledge of the Law, he did not know the first, the primary and the most important law. To his credit, he was a humble man. So, in humility, he came to the Source of knowledge, the Lord of life himself. He was not one of those scribes who belittled and disregarded Jesus. He was not one of those scribes who considered themselves more knowledgeable, more superior and and intellectually more vast and depth than Jesus. When he came to Jesus, he was not afraid or ashamed to ask his question. He let it out: “Which is the first of all the commandments?”

Responding to his question, Jesus said: “...You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength..” And “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Speaking further, Jesus beautifully concludes with: “There is no other commandment greater than these.” Put differently, “There are several other commandments out there that we are required to keep, but none of those commandments is greater than the love of God and the love of neighbor.” 

Surprisingly, the scribe agreed with Jesus! I think this is the only recorded story where a scribe actually agreed with what Jesus said. Like I said before, scribes were opponents of the Lord; they never loved him; they were always looking for ways to trap him and kill him. But this particular scribe agreed with the teaching of Jesus when he said: “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 burnt offerings and sacrifices.” The man’s answer was intelligently beautiful that Jesus praised him with the following words: “You are not far from the kingdom of God.”

Sisters and brothers, you are not far from the kingdom of God if you genuinely love God and neighbor. You are not far from the kingdom of God if you honestly love God and God’s people. You are not far from the kingdom of God if you sincerely love God and the other. You are not far from the kingdom of God if your heart is pure. You are not far from the kingdom of God if you are forgiving and tolerant. You are not far from the kingdom of God if you are merciful. You are not far from the kingdom of God if you are accommodating and hospitable. You are not far from the kingdom of God if the foundation of your life is love- perfect love, sincere love, pure love, unrestricted love, love for God and love for everyone. But if you are none of these, begin today to walk closer to the kingdom by bowing and surrendering to love. This love cannot only be vertical, it must also be horizontal. In his encyclical titled “Deus Caritas Est” (“God is love”), Pope Benedict XVI wrote: “The love of God and love of neighbor have become one: in the least of the brethren we find Jesus, and in Jesus we find God.” The least of the brethren is not just the poor and the most vulnerable, it is also that individual you find difficult to love and to accept.