Mark 12:34
And when Jesus saw that he answered with understanding, he said to him, "You are not far from the Kingdom of God." And no one dared to ask him any more questions.
When you were growing up, you had to memorize a lot of information in school: Multiplication tables, algebraic rules, spelling rules, lists of prepositions, conjunctions, proper tenses, etc. As a young Christian, we memorize the Ten Commandments and hear many of the Old and New Testament stories. But do we really understand them? Memorization of scriptures is great, but we need proper grounding on what they mean. This might be a lifetime of study and prayer.
Today a scribe asks Jesus what the first or greatest of all the commandments. Jesus gives him an answer which the scribe replies that we should love God with everything in us and, with importance, adds that this love is more important that sacrifices and burnt offerings. Jesus hears this and knows that this scribe not only KNOWS the law but UNDERSTANDS the law. No one asked him any more questions because these same people were the ones that make sacrifices and burnt offerings. They were perplexed and probably felt somewhat uncomfortable. So they didn't want to test the teacher anymore.
We are called to both understand and LIVE the law. It is one thing to know the law, to treat people with respect love dignity, etc., but to do it? Do we live it? Do we love God with our whole heart or just an hour on Sunday? Do we give all we can to our neighbor, the stranger, the downtrodden? As Christians we are called to do everything in our power to love God and our fellow man. God, give us the strength to stretch our knowledge and love for you and one another.
