Qua bài Tin Mừng hôm nay, Chúa Giêsu dậy chúng ta là: Chúng ta được ơn cứu rỗi hay được lên thiên đàng không phải là chỉ biết tuân theo những lề luật hay là cố né tránh những chuyện khỏi rắc rối, gây ra tội lỗi, Nhưng chúng ta đươc Chúa đảm bảo là Chúa Kitô sẽ luôn luôn đồng hành với chúng ta khi chúng ta đến với Ngài. Nếu chúng ta cùng chết với Ngài, chúng ta sẽ cùng được hưởng phúc với Ngài và nếu chúng ta chịu đựng đau khổ với Ngài ta; chúng ta sẽ cùng đồng hưởng tôn nhan Chúa trên Trời với Ngài.
Thậm chí nếu chúng ta không trung tín với Chúa, Chúa Giêsu vẫn luôn trung tín với chúng ta, Ngài không thể từ bỏ chính mình, và chúng ta là một phần của Ngài, Cuộc sống của chúng ta phải sống một trong những yêu tố như yêu thương và phục vụ, cũng giống như cuộc đời của Chúa Kitô. Trong nhiều cách dù nhỏ, hay to lớn, chúng ta cũng phải vác thập giá của chúng ta và đi theo Chúa. Vì cuộc hành trình đức tin của chúng ta là một trong những quan hệ với Chúa Giêsu.
Giới răn trọng nhất mà Chúa Giêsu đã dạy cho người luật sĩ trong bài Tin Mừng hôm nay là kim chỉ nam để hướng dẫn cuộc sống của chúng ta. Yêu Mến Thiên Chúa hết lòng, hết sức và trên tất cả mọi thứ mà ở nơi chúng ta, và yêu những người chung quanh như chúng ta yêu chính mình, Nếu chúng ta làm được điều đó, ngay cả những khi chúng ta lầm nỡ, chúng ta sẽ sống, Điều này trên thực tế là luật pháp duy nhất mà thật sự là Chúa Giêsu đã đã ban cho chúng ta; tất cả những lề luật khác, đơn thuần chỉ là biểu hiện của một nguyên tắc cơ bản mà vũ trụ này được cai trị. Tình yêu là động lực đê cho các hành tinh, các ngôi sao tinh tú được di chuyển trong vũ trụ của chúng ta, và vì vậy “tình yêu” phải hiện diện trong trái tim của chúng ta, trong tâm hồn, và linh hồn. Khi chúng ta khép kín tâm hồn và không có tình yêu, chúng ta đã đóng cửa tâm hồn và để Thiên Chúa ở bên ngoài. Giới răn trọng nhất này nên phải là một phần suy niệm và kiểm thảo hàng ngày của chúng ta.
Being saved or going to heaven is far more than just obeying the rules or staying out of trouble. We are assured that Christ walks with us as we walk with him. If we die with him, we will rise with him; and if we endure with him; we will reign with him.
Even if we are not faithful, Jesus is ; he cannot deny himself, and we are part of him. Our life must be one of love and service, just as his life was. In many small ways, and sometimes big ones, we too must take up our cross and follow him. Our faith journey is a partnership with Jesus.
The great commandment that Jesus gave the earnest scribe is the compass by which we guide our life. Love God with everything that is in you, and love your neighbour as if he or she were part of yourself. If we do that, even if we have made many mistakes, we will live. This in fact is the only real law that Jesus gave us - all of the other laws are merely expressions of this one fundamental principle by which the universe is ruled. Love powers the planets and stars and all that is in our universe, and so it must power our hearts, minds, and souls. When we shut out love, we have shut out God. This great commandment should be part of our daily meditation and reflection. Lord, help me to pattern my life on Your love commandment.
One of the scribes came to Jesus and asked him, “Which is the first of all the commandments?” Mark 12:28
We continue to read about Jesus’ various interactions, teachings, and prophetic actions in the Temple area during Passover, just days before He would be arrested and killed. During the week, Jesus cleansed the Temple of moneychangers and merchants and was confronted with hostility by various religious and political factions.
First, a group of chief priests, scribes, and elders challenged His authority to cleanse the Temple and then unsuccessfully conspired with some Pharisees and Herodians to trap Him in a legal dilemma. Next, some Sadducees confronted Him, but Jesus’ answer exposed their misunderstanding of the Scriptures and the power of God. In today’s Gospel, after witnessing that exchange, a scribe—impressed by Jesus’ answer—came forward. Rather than trying to trap Him, he asks a sincere question: “Which is the first of all the commandments?”
At that time, the scribe’s question reflected a common rabbinical discussion about the hierarchy of the Law. Perhaps because of the widespread disagreements among the various religious factions—priests, scribes, Pharisees, Sadducees—scholars often sought to determine a guiding principle for what had been identified in Jewish tradition as 613 commandments within the Torah. Some commandments, like the prohibition of idolatry, seemed weightier, while others, like dietary laws, were considered less important.
Jesus’ response does not simply rank the commandments; it reveals their true purpose by uniting them in a way that fulfills the entire Law. Instead of engaging in legalistic debates, He elevates the discussion by going directly to the heart of the Law with a twofold summary: “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” (Mark 12:30–31). By doing so, Jesus shows that love—of God first and of neighbor as an extension of that law—is the foundation and fulfillment of every commandment.
Our own lives are sometimes burdened with controversy and division. Whether in politics, religion, academics, or daily life, disagreements arise that can easily lead to contention. When unchecked, these conflicts can foster division, hostility, and even obsessions that steal our peace. Jesus’ interaction with this scribe offers us a path forward: the way of humble inquiry, sincere dialogue, and the pursuit of Truth grounded in love. When we approach discussions with a heart open to God rather than with a desire to win an argument, we draw closer to His Kingdom.
Reflect today on the witness of this scribe. Though Jesus’ teaching on love of God and neighbor is of paramount importance, so is the example this scribe set in pursuit of the Truth. Consider your own approach to God’s Truth by examining your daily interactions with others. Do you struggle with being combative, resort to trickery, or obsess over being right and getting your way? Or do you seek the Truth that brings understanding and unity? Seek to imitate this scribe in humility and sincerity, and you, too, will not be far from the Kingdom of God.
Lord of Perfect Love, the fulfillment of Your Law is found in the pure and holy love of charity. Help me to love You above all things, and from that love, to see and treat others as You do. May my love for You transform me into an instrument of Your divine charity, that through me, Your love may bring healing, unity, and peace. Jesus, I trust in You.
Opening Prayer: Lord God, I seek to know your will. I promise throughout the day to go to your Son and eagerly listen to his words so that I may know how to act. Pour out your Spirit into my heart to guide my actions.
1. The Third Test: In the Gospel of Mark, the third dispute (Mark 12:28-34) is not explicitly called a test as it is in the Gospel of Matthew (22:35). The scribe seems to approach Jesus in sincerity and asks him a question about the 613 commandments contained in the Law of Moses (the Torah). One of the things the scribes, the scholars of the Law, often sought for in the Law was an overarching principle or first commandment that summarized and grounded all the other commandments (Healy, The Gospel of Mark, 246). When asked by the scribe what he thought about this question, Jesus identified the commandment to love God with our entire being as the first and greatest commandment. He quoted Deuteronomy 6:4-5. This was the Israelite confession of faith, known as the Shema (“Hear”). “In fidelity to Deut 6:7 devout Jews recite the Shema every morning and evening. Jewish homes usually have a mezuzah, a little box containing the Shema inscribed on parchment, affixed to the doorpost (see Deut 6:9). Orthodox Jewish men (and sometimes women) wear tefillin (or phylacteries), leather boxes containing the Shema, on their head and hand during prayer (Deut 6:8)” (Healy, The Gospel of Mark, 247). The Shema affirms that the Lord (YHWH) alone is God. As the creator of all things, God deserves all that we are in return.
Finally, we have the witness of one of the religious leaders, a scribe, who got it right. The passage above is the conclusion of the interaction with this scribe who asks Jesus which of all the commandments is the first and greatest. Jesus gives the twofold answer that we are to love God above all, with all your heart, mind, soul and strength, and our neighbor as ourselves. The scribe then responds to Jesus’ answer by saying, “Well said, teacher. You are right…” And then Jesus compliments this scribe with the quoted passage above.
Recall that almost all of the Pharisees were continually rebuked by Jesus because of their self-righteous arrogance. The Sadducees were also chastised but often to a lesser degree. And now we have a scribe who outshines them all. The scribes were primarily functionaries who copied or created various liturgical and legal documents. Some of the Pharisees were also scribes. And most of the time, when Jeus condemned the Pharisees, He also condemned the scribes. But this scribe is different. This scribe appears to not only be interested in Jesus’ answer but also manifests “understanding” of what Jesus said to him. Don’t underestimate the importance of this gift of understanding.
In order to truly understand that which our Lord speaks to us, we must be open. And openness requires humility. Humility is a virtue that is contrary to a “know-it-all” attitude. It’s a disposition of mind and heart that listens to God speak, hears what He says, comprehends all truth by the gift of grace, and prayerfully submits to that truth. Humility enables us to look beyond ourselves for the answers to the most difficult questions in life. It enables us to turn to the one and only source of truth, Jesus Christ Himself. And the fruit of this humble openness is the gift of understanding. It’s an understanding of the mysteries of life which is beyond our natural intellectual capacity. The grace of God is able to teach and form the humble soul and fill it with clarity of vision and an acceptance of the deepest truths.
Reflect, today, upon Jesus’ words to this scribe. “You are not far from the Kingdom of God.” Does Jesus also speak these words to you? Have you humbly sought out the answers to the many questions of life by turning to our Lord? More specifically, are you able to look at your life and rejoice in the fact that God has also given you His gift of understanding? If not, then look within and consider which questions you most need to bring to Jesus. Place them before Him and then listen, be open and be ready to respond when He speaks. Hearing and responding to our Lord will result in our Lord saying these same words to you.
My Lord of all Truth, You look upon the humble souls with graciousness and mercy, and You reveal to them the mysteries of the Kingdom of Heaven. Please give me the gift of humility, dear Lord, so that I may always turn to You with every question in life. Fill me with the gift of understanding so that I may know how to love and serve You more faithfully each and every day. Jesus, I trust in You.
Introductory Prayer: Lord, I come before you humbly. As one who has frequently fallen into sin, I know my weakness. Your great love assures me that your grace can keep me on the path to holiness.
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