"I have not come to fight, I have come to love", said Yunus Emre (1238-1320), a famous Turkiye poet and Sufis. Perhaps that is the appropriate phrase to describe Jesus from Nazareth to Jerusalem, although of course Emre did not intend to write a verse for Jesus.
On the journey that was only a few kilometers away to reach the peak of proving His love, Jesus encountered several figures who required Him to be in a vortex of contention. The well-arranged yet high-level traps of questions are attempts to stop the path of His love!
After Jesus had broken through the trap: whether it was permissible to pay taxes and about the resurrection. Now, he is confronted with the most important law. Is this latter Pharisee the same as the Pharisees and Sadducees before him? He wanted to fight and trap Jesus with a complicated problem? For this person, it is better for us to huznudzon than suudzon.
This scribe must have heard Jesus' conversation before. The theme of the resurrection debate must have caught the attention of this person a lot. The Pharisees who were generally scribes were not like the Sadducees who did not believe in the resurrection. The Pharisees believed in the resurrection. This man saw Jesus as having the same beliefs as him. The scribe observed that Jesus gave the Sadducees the right answer. He agreed and wanted to discuss further with Jesus. It could be that in the next conversation, the scribe really wanted to know Jesus' opinion and interpretation of that particular law. Talk about the law and its interpretation is commonplace among them.
The atmosphere of the dialogue was also different from the conversation with the Saduk people. If we look closely, the scribe made no attempt to trap or bring down Jesus. On the other hand, on Jesus' part there were no harsh words or satirical parables for this man, instead Jesus saw him as a wise man (Mark 12:34).
The scribe wanted to know Jesus' interpretation of the law in particular. We need to realize that the Jewish rabbis have broken down all the commandments in the Torah into 613 commandments and prohibitions. On the positive side, the description of the Torah makes it easier for people to do what should be done and not to do what is forbidden. All of the 613 descriptions of the law are so closely intertwined and interconnected with each other that, violating just one of these provisions, is considered to be a violation of the whole law. It is common for rabbis to discuss the basic principles that animate the entire rule.
In response to that question, Jesus said that there are only two commandments that are the most important. First, Jesus quoted Deuteronomy 6:4-5 to explain that man must love God with all his heart, soul, mind, and strength. Second, Jesus quoted Leviticus 19:18, about loving one's neighbor as oneself. These two laws are the main law and at the same time the essence of the ten laws of God. These two commandments are inseparable: love for God is manifested by loving one's neighbor. Jesus affirmed that there is no commandment that is more important than these two commandments. There is no greater command than this command. Other laws provide an explanation of how to love God and others.
The scribe confirmed Jesus' answer and praised Him, "Teacher, you are right," and he affirmed that, "to love your neighbor as yourself is far more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices." (Mark 12:33).
It seems that this scribe succeeded in digesting what Jesus said. An extraordinary affirmation came from the mouth of a Pharisee that loving one's neighbor was more important than all burnt and slaughtered sacrifices. This statement wants to emphasize: First, man cannot just love God – in this case it is manifested by the giving of sacrifices – and then not care about his neighbor. We can look far into the time of Amos, how humans tried to separate the worship rituals in which they were carried out lively with the offerings of good animals. However, they ignore and even oppress their fellow humans. Clearly, God refused! Sacrifice is not unimportant. However, he will lose meaning if he only represents his selfish self in order to get blessings from what he does.
Second, loving Allah and others cannot be compared to all the sacrifices offered. That love cannot be replaced by any number of sacrificial animals. Yes, the way to love God is to love our fellow human beings as we love ourselves. Jesus saw that those who were discussing with Him understood and answered wisely. On this basis Jesus told him that he was "not far off from the kingdom of God!"
"Δεν εισαι μακραν απο της βασιλειας του Θεου" (You are not far from the Kingdom of God!) The kingdom of God is built from this: Love for God and for fellow man. Both must be done and lived, not just discussed, made as the theme of preaching and coaching. Jesus said that man was not far from the Kingdom of God. What does that mean? Most people interpret because the person does not believe that Jesus is the Messiah. This scribe has not yet acknowledged Jesus as the "High Priest who atones for the sins of the world." That is why it has not yet entered the Kingdom of God!
It is okay for people to interpret it that way. However, let us meditate on another of Jesus' words recorded in Matthew 7:21, "Not every one calls on me: Lord, Lord! will enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven!" Confession is important, but as Jesus confirmed that loving is far more important than sacrifice. So deeds and acts of love are much more important.
Thus, the scribe said that it was "not far from the kingdom of God", meaning that it was one step away. The step is: to do and do that act of love and not just discuss it! We can also belong to this group "not far from the kingdom of God" but have not yet entered it. In other words, we are so close to the Kingdom of God, in this case we are talking about love, because the essence of the Kingdom of God is love. However, it wasn't in it yet! Why? Because, we are too busy talking, discussing and using this discourse to judge others.
The shortcoming of many followers of Jesus is that they are close to God's Kingdom, but they are not yet in it. We are busy with our offerings, while refusing to manifest that love in action. Let's evaluate ourselves, how much we do acts of love to others with equal quality when we love ourselves. If this is rare or not at all then we are people who remain outside the Kingdom of God, even though we feel close to the vortex of the Kingdom of God!
Jakarta, October 31, 2024. Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B
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