Not Far from the Kingdom...

Gospel Reflection for March 28th, 2025 Friday of the Third Week of Lent

The one thing any parent can tell you with small children is that your time becomes minute. The days are gone where you can simply sit and read a good book. There’s no time to sit to research a topic or write; or really think for that matter. The one thing I’ve struggled with as a parent with toddlers is prayer. I used to regularly pray the Divine Office; I prayed the Rosary two times a day. I had time to sit and pray a holy hour. I go to mass now on Sundays, and I spend most of the time trying to keep the kids quiet and reverent. So, when it comes to praying for the grace to know how to be a saint, or give thanksgiving, or forgiveness: My prayer is simple—"Show me the way Lord, show me the way.”

Many biblical commentators have written on the idea that the first and second commandments articulated by Jesus in today’s reading reflect the two sides of the tablets of the Ten Commandments, which make Jesus’ greatest commandment. The key, for our reflection today of the gospel, is understanding the preface Jesus puts on His teaching given to the scribe. The preface, known as the Shema, is recited by Jesus in the beginning of His answer to the scribe. Jesus begins, “The first is this: ‘Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone!”^[1] Theologians Donahue and Harrington explain,”the Hebrew imperative singular “hear” provides the title (Shema) for the block of three OT quotations (Deut 6:4–9; 11:13–21; Num 15:37–41) that were (and are) recited three times a day by pious Jews.”^[2]

Jesus replied, “The first is this: ‘Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone!”

It is important to note too that the Scribe is not the adversary of Jesus in this narrative—he agrees with the Lord’s answer! In fact, Venerable Bede explains, “But the reason why he was not far from the kingdom of God was, that he proved himself to be a favourer of that opinion, which is proper to the New Testament and to Gospel perfection.”^[3]

There is something deeper going on here with Jesus’ teaching. Our Lord replies to the scribe, “you are not far from the Kingdom of God.” It’s quite an answer for the Scribe is not far from…but still not there—in the midst of Jesus! The gospel readings throughout Lent have been reflecting on the Kingdom, it’s been explored that the Kingdom is a central component to understanding the mission, or purpose, of Jesus’ coming. The Kingdom of God is the actual historical event of Jesus bringing God’s sovereignty into the world through His incarnation for the purpose of salvation.

Pope Benedict XVI explains the lens of the Shema, “The recitation of this prayer was understood as the act of taking on one’s shoulders the yoke of God’s sovereign lordship.”[4] The Scribe was not far from the Kingdom; but there is something more—there is a surrender needed to our Lord.

How does this apply to my life? My life is very different with the gift of children. Children teach us daily the gift of humility and surrender. Children create unexpected events and disorder—what a gift! All I can do is offer a surrender to the Lord daily. “Show me the way Lord, Show me the way.”

How are you offering up your surrender to the Lord? Leave a comment and let us know what’s going on with your life.

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^[1] Mk 12:29, NAB-RE

^[2] John R. Donahue and Daniel J. Harrington, The Gospel of Mark, ed. Daniel J. Harrington, vol. 2, Sacra Pagina Series (Collegeville, MN: The Liturgical Press, 2002), 354.

^[3] Thomas Aquinas, Catena Aurea: Commentary on the Four Gospels, Collected out of the Works of the Fathers: St. Mark, ed. John Henry Newman, vol. 2 (Oxford: John Henry Parker, 1842), 248.

[4] Pope Benedict XVI, Jesus of Nazareth Vol. 1 (The Crown Publishing Group. Kindle Edition), 57