“Hear These Words and Live These Commands”

by Bruce J. Johnson

November 2, 2003

(Scripture: Mark 12: 28-34)

On the front page of yesterday’s New York Times, there was the following headline and accompanying story:

“A House Saved, but the Neighborhood Is Gone.”

The story is about what happened in Palmer Canyon in the foothills of the San Bernardino National Forest in California when a wall of fire struck early last Sunday, leaving the canyon barren, empty of life and sound.

The house that was spared belonged to the Chase family and in the interview with the Times, she said this:

“I miss my neighbors… I feel blessed and fortunate that my house was saved, but this place was more than houses and yards--- it was community."

Events like these remind us what life is all about and what matters most.

Today’s lesson from the Gospel according to Mark is one of those really important ones…. One that deals with the spiritual bottom line, with what matters most in living the life of faith. A scribe approaches Jesus amidst all the bickering that was taking place among the disciples and he asks Jesus:

“Which commandment is the first of all?”

And Jesus gives a two part answer to a one part question, saying in effect, hear these words and live this command:

“The Lord our God, the Lord is one; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul and with all your mind and all your strength and the second is like unto it, you shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

You see, for Jesus, you can’t have one without the other—loving God and loving your neighbor are one! Why? Because for him, the life of faith is all about the word becoming flesh and dwelling among us full of grace and truth and it is in our loving and caring for one another that we love and care for God. And we show our love for God by loving and caring for each other.

There is this story I’ve always liked:

A thoughtful, curious young man went to the desert to visit an

elderly man, a monk, who had lived in the desert for many years.

Arriving at the holy man’s cave, the young man encountered the monk, who was sitting out enjoying the sun, his dog lying lazily at his side.

This spiritual seeker asked, “Why is it, teacher, that some who seek God come to the desert and are zealous in prayer, but leave after a year or so, while others, like you, remain faithful to the quest for a lifetime.

The old man smiled and replied, “Let me tell you a story. One day I was sitting here quietly in the sun with my dog. Suddenly a large, white rabbit ran across in front of us. Well, my dog jumped up barking loudly and took off after that rabbit over the hills with a passion. Soon other dogs joined the chase, barking across the creeks, up stony embankments, and through the thickets and thorns! Gradually, however, one by one, the other dogs dropped out of the pursuit, discouraged by the course, frustrated by the chase. Only my dog continued to hotly pursue the white rabbit. In that story, young man, is the answer to your question.

The young man sat in confused silence. Finally, he said, “Teacher, I don’t understand. What is the connection between the rabbit chase and the quest for God?”

“You fail to understand,” answered the old hermit, “because you failed to ask the obvious question. The question is, why didn’t the other dogs continue the chase? And the answer to that question is that the other dogs had not seen the rabbit. They were attracted by the barking of my dog. But once you see the rabbit, you will never give up the chase….” (indebted to Richard J. Fairchild for story)

I think that that’s what’s happening over and over again when people see in Jesus and his relationship with others, and hear in his words--- the presence, power and promise of God’s love and what life and relationships are meant to be. Once you hear these words and see these deeds, one must do as he asks.

Do you remember last week’s story about the blind man who, in response to the question Jesus asks: “What do you want me to do for you?” says: “I want my sight back!” which of course, meant I want my life back.

And what happened? He gets his sight but what he sees is all the promise and possibility not in his old life but in his new life as he takes after Jesus--- on the road to Jerusalem. What he sees is that his new life is to found not in looking back but looking forward---in believing in and following Jesus.

That once blind but now sighted man may have been among those who heard the scribe ask his question. Having been a beggar for so many years, it probably came as no surprise to him that Jesus said that life was all about loving God and loving one another.

I read a piece the other day that had been written by the Rev. Fred Rogers--- that’s right--- Mr. Rogers to most of us, the one who use to ask, “Won’t you be my neighbor. He was, as most of you know, an ordained Presbyterian minister too. Well, in this article he reflects on the question:

“Are God and Neighbor One?” (The Living Pulpit, September 2002)

The anchor anecdote he tells is a true one that for him says it all:

“A few years ago at the Seattle Special Olympics there were nine contestants for the 100 yard dash, all of them so called physically or mentally disabled. They all assembled at the starting line. As they took off at the sound of the gun, one little boy stumbled and fell, hurt his knee and began to cry. The other eight children heard the boy crying. They slowed down. Turned around, saw the boy and ran back to him--- every one them ran back to him. One little girl with Down’s Syndrome kissed the boy and said, “This will make it better.” The boy got up and he and the rest of the runners linked arms and joyfully walked to the finish line. They all finished the race at the same time. When they did, every one in the stadium stood up and clapped, whistled and cheered for a long, long time. People who were there are still talking about it with obvious delight. I think that’s because deep down we know that what matters in this life is much more than winning for ourselves. What really matters is helping others to win, too, even if it means slowing down and changing our course now and then.” (p. 4.)

In some ways, how simple can it be? This morning as we eavesdrop on the conversation between the scribe and Jesus we are reminded what is “first of all” in importance in the life of faith--- to love God and love your neighbor.

And there is something the same about today as it was then, the real question that follows is whether those who hear these words will live these commands. Will we love God with all that we are and have--- and show it by helping others, by linking arms and hearts and finishing the race together, even it means slowing down and changing our course now and then?

You know, another one of the interesting things about today’s passage is how Jesus was so not afraid to affirm the scribe in what he knew to be true about matters of first importance. Seeing his wisdom and knowledge, Jesus says to the scribe:

“You are not far from the kingdom of God.”

Curious things to say, isn’t it? Not far? What was he saying?

Knowing it gets you close…. Doing it gets you there!

This morning, let’s not just aspire to be near.

Let us all “hear these words and live these commands.”

Amen