Friday of the Third Week of Lent
Psychologists talk a lot about the importance of spending time with your children and other loved ones. They tell us that buying a gift can't supplant the words "I love you" or even simply time spent just being with that other person.
Today's readings make a very similar point about our relationship with God.
Today's first reading (Hosea 14:2-10) is spoken by the prophet Hosea, who is exhorting God's people to return to him. The text suggests that the people had relied on animal sacrifice as a way of ensuring that they were once again in God's good graces again. They wanted to use things - especially things they could buy - as ways to show that they loved God.
But strikingly, Hosea here says: "Take with you words and return to the Lord." He goes on to suggest what words the people might take with them: to say "never again" when they admire "the work of their hands" too much; to speak compassion to orphans, to say to God that they believe.
God, through Hosea, asks us to move away from things as ways of loving God, toward words. We should not see these words as "mere" words - for words actually do something for people - both good and harmful. They can establish relationships (as we believe when we say "I do" at a wedding, or "I believe" at a baptism) and words can break down relationships too.
But Jesus asks us to do even more in today's gospel (Mark 12:28-34). He begins with words. "Hear O Israel, the Lord our God is Lord alone!" And he goes on to recite the great commandments God gives in the Old Testament (from the Book of Deuteronomy): Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind, and Love your neighbor as yourself.
The Jewish scribe with whom Jesus speaks clearly understands: the words here are much more important than any sacrifice. So Jesus commends him, saying he is "not far from the Kingdom of God."
Not far! But "not far" can still seem pretty far when you haven't quite gotten what you wanted. How can this scribe make it to the Kingdom of God?
Perhaps there's a hint in the final line: no one dared ask Jesus any more questions. The words.... stop. No more words to love with, OR to lie with. No more words that get in the way of actually doing the loving.
So instead, as we hear from today's psalm, we are called to walk in God's ways. Our loving actions supplant even our words - our ministry to orphans and those who poor among us.
Today - let us reflect on times when we use too many words in our lives (via our ipods? our TV watching? our arguing?) and move away from those moments, toward doing loving actions.
- Jana M. Bennett