06/06/2024

In today's Gospel instead of the disputes that Jesus usually had with the leaders of the Temple and Jewish Worship, there is a dialogue that results in mutual approval. The Scribe approves and enlarges on Jesus' reply to his original question that he had not framed as a challenge. 

He knew Jesus as the wandering Rabbi and miracle worker of whom the Chief priests were extremely wary for they could not categorize him as belonging to any of the groups that made up the "Church" of the Temple. 

He was not Sadducee or Pharisee, Essene or Zealot. Jesus had been welcomed by John, whose execution by Herod was still fresh in the memories of his followers, as the "Lamb of God" a phrase whose significance was yet to be made clear. 

The unnamed scribe was sure, however, as were so many of his contemporaries that this man, Jesus, was totally outside of their experience or knowledge and by his question he wanted to be able to come to an understanding of Jesus and the source of his charisma and miracles.

Twenty or thirty years later St Paul, also a learned scribe, has been fed by the "Lamb of God" ever since his experience of the "Glory of the Resurrection" and he too knows Jesus as a unique being but much more than that. Jesus is  the "only begotten" for it is only by himself becoming the victim that God can receive the sacrificial atonement for the offence that is sin.

The growth of the sin of Adam in the our world is so evident today and yet ignored by so many of us. Our minds are filled by so many earthly wonders, by so much beauty and intelligent "wranglings" that we have blocked out the questions that we need to ask Jesus who is the only "Way, Truth and Life". 

We can only find the lasting joy that we have been created to share by being one with the man Jesus in his answer "Listen, the Lord our God is the one Lord and you must love the Lord your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength.You must love your neighbour as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these."

We have not been left alone by our Lord to do this but we do need to open our hearts to the sacramental grace that still pours out from the "Lamb of God" that man bleeding out his life on Calvary.

Dear Lord, help me to learn and follow the love that you have lavished on your creation. Let me avoid all occasions of sin and treat all others with the kindness that I would like to receive from them. In our world, you  know that the sin you defeated is still being chosen by the people for whom you died to bring to eternal safety and Love. May Mary lead the heavenly chorus in prayers for our individual sanctity  which is the only way that your will can rule our world. I can still ask why so much evil is permitted to be completed on earth and hope that I can be answered. May Father, Son and Holy Spirit hear my prayer and let my heart be open to receive and accept an answer. I know that I am tiny but I am more than nothing for you have chosen to save me. Help me to be truly thankful for your grace. Amen