31st SUNDAY, YEAR B: REFLECTION BY FR JULIAN EKEH
THEME: YOU’RE NOT FAR FROM THE KINGDOM OF GOD IF YOU LOVE
(Mark 12:28–34)
The scribes and the Pharisees remain the chief opposers to everything taught by Christ. They tried to refute Jesus’ viewpoints. They often came with conflicting issues. But today, we see a scribe who is exceptional. He may have taken good time to know more about the commandments of God. He humbled himself, realising the limitations of his intelligence and inquiry. He dares to ask, asking to know, asking to become a better person. He must have believed that knowledge is power. He must have known that Jesus is capable of clearing his doubts. His sincerity opened to him the path to greatness. He got the first-hand information about the first of all the commandments from Jesus the first and last. Where do you go for true knowledge?
He wanted a summary of all the commandments. Jesus simply told him: Love God, Love Man with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. At this, the scribe immediately subscribed to what Jesus answered. And Jesus assured him of his nearness to the kingdom of God.
Love keeps us close to the kingdom of God. Many of us are very far away from the kingdom of God because we have failed to love both God and man. Some of us claim to love God. They seem to say if I do what pleases God, say my prayers, pay my tithe, go for Sunday and weekday masses, do my devotions, and fast, then my heart is at peace. Others claim that when they show love to their neighbours, pay the orphan’s school fees, pay hospital bills for a poor man, construct a road for my people, then goers are wasting time. This is good, but it may just be philanthropical. Jesus emphasises both the love of God and man. The type of love that draws us nearer to God is that type that is flying with two wings, one divine the other human. I remember one spiritual book with a title: Be Human be Holy.
Unfortunately, love is often misunderstood. Love that is not for the sake of God may not be heaven oriented. The many good things we do for selfish gains without bearing God in mind may not merit us heaven. The money you give to a lady in the name of love for lust cannot take you close to heaven. The road you built just to win an election cannot take you to heaven. The donation you made just to be seen and applauded cannot be called love for God and can never take you near heaven’s gate. You can merit heaven by the praxis of love when you love God and man for God’s own sake.
May God destroy whatever barrier that keeps us far from the kingdom of God. May God draw us nearer to his love and help us to show true love to our brothers and sisters, for God’s sake.
May we receive love just as we give love. May God be happy to tell us: You are not far from the kingdom. May we never be far from the joy, peace, and glory of the kingdom of God through Christ our Lord. Amen
Happy/lovely Sunday to you (31st Sunday in Ordinary Time B)
Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh