Two More Questions

Greetings on this the Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time
Readings: Dt 6:2-6; Ps 18:2-3, 3-4, 47, 51; Heb 7:23-28; Mk 12:28b-34
Notes: Our gospel reading today ends with And no one dared to ask him any more questions (MK 12:34).

The scribe asked the most important question. that is, what is the most important law.
He got back the answer given by Moses centuries before. A tenet of Jewish faith.

The scribe knew Jesus was right.
The high priest had another question and the Roman prefect (governor) yet another question.

Whether you are a scribe, high priest, roman governor… the answer is always the same.

The Highest of all Priests, the Highest of all Prophets and the Highest of the line of the Davidic Kingship, and the son of the Blessed One, says, more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices: Love.

Related homily with a Lent focus: https://deacongerrypalermo.blog/2021/03/12/any-more-questions/

First reading
“Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD alone!
Therefore, you shall love the LORD, your God,
with all your heart,
and with all your soul,
and with all your strength.
Take to heart these words which I enjoin on you today.”

Responsorial Psalm
I love you, Lord, my strength.

Second reading
It was fitting that we should have such a high priest:
holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners,
higher than the heavens.

Alleluia Verse
Whoever loves me will keep my word, says the Lord;
and my father will love him and we will come to him.

Gospel Portion
One of the scribes came to Jesus and asked him,
“Which is the first of all the commandments?”

Cover your eyes with your right hand and say:
Sh’ma Yis-ra-eil, A-do-nai E-lo-hei-nu, A-do-nai E-chad.

More than all burnt offerings and sacrifices: (Love over Law)
to love him with all your heart,
with all your understanding,
with all your strength,
and to love your neighbor as yourself.

And no one dared to ask him any more questions (MK 12:34).

But they did ask two more questions:

1. [The high priest asked him], “Are you the Messiah, the son of the Blessed One?” (MK 14:61).
2. Pilate questioned him, “Are you the king of the Jews?” (MK 15:2).

Messiah, in this age, is usually associated being a High Priest, Prophet, and Liberator.
The high priest gives him recognition as ‘son of the Blessed One’ (he thinks a theological trap, but a truth).
Pilate wanted to know if he was King.

Jesus answered, “I am”.
Jesus answered, “You say so.”

The Highest of all Priests, the Highest of all Prophets and the Highest of the line of the Davidic Kingship, and the son of the Blessed One, says, more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices: Love.

Any questions?

We are so far from Jesus today.
But we don’t have to be.
“You are not far from the kingdom of God.”

Jesus is the High Priest who intercedes for us.
Whoever loves me will keep my word, says the Lord;
and my father will love him and we will come to him.

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry