The Jewish Carpenter / Lawyer

Mark 12:28-34

           I know Jesus was not a lawyer but it seems he could have been. When asked a question he invariably answered with another question, a story or another answer that really threw his inquisitor off balance.

        I attended a day of reflection once and the Priest made an interesting point about confession, formal or otherwise. When we fail to confess or rationalize away things we are really trying to fool only ourselves. God already knows the truth of our actions and our hearts. After all we are not confessing for God's good, it is for our benefit.  We can ask God any questions we like about our actions or why things are the way they are but are we willing to hear the answer? Just as Christ answered in an unexpected way, are we trying to hear only what we want to hear? Like I said if we aren't honest and aren't honest and cooperative, we are only fooling ourselves. God knows it all.

        To our surprise and what should be our joy and delight, God loves us as we are at whatever point in the journey we are on. But to continue on the journey this Lent (and always) we must listen, we must be honest with ourselves and accept our responsibility in moving forward. We may not get the answer we are seeking to justify ourselves with. We may not get the answer we like and we may have to change course, ask for forgiveness and move on.

         Confession, formal or otherwise is not a Law and Order, LA Law or some other lawyerly show. Confession is about self assessment and the need and willingness to move move forward. 

One of the scribes came near and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, he asked him, ‘Which commandment is the first of all?’ Jesus answered, ‘The first is, “Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.” ³The second is this, “You shall love your neighbour as yourself.” There is no other commandment greater than these.’ Then the scribe said to him, ‘You are right, Teacher; you have truly said that “he is one, and besides him there is no other”; and “to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength”, and “to love one’s neighbour as oneself”,—this is much more important than all whole burnt-offerings and sacrifices.’ When Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, ‘You are not far from the kingdom of God.’ After that no one dared to ask him any question.