Reflection
Whenever I read this Gospel passage, I am reminded of the book Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl. In it, he shares the story of his arrival at the Auschwitz concentration camp. As a psychiatrist, he had been working on a manuscript, his life’s work to date, that he had hidden in his coat. He wanted to hold on to it at all costs. Upon entering the camp, he was required to relinquish his clothing for a shower, including his jacket, which contained the valued manuscript. In an instant, it was gone. Following his shower, he was instructed to go pick up “new” clothes from a pile on the ground and get dressed. This pile of clothes belonged to prisoners who had been sent to the crematorium. Frankl picked up a jacket, mourning the loss of his manuscript, put his hand into its pocket, and felt a piece of paper. Taking the paper out, he read the first part of today’s Gospel. Known as the Shema (meaning, to hear), a prayer devout Jews recited three times a day. Taken from the book of Deuteronomy 6:4-5:
“Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone! You shall love the Lord your God with all your all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.”
I have often pondered this story and the soul who carried this prayer in his pocket, his commitment and devotion to God. A prayer that replaced Viktor Frankl’s treasured manuscript. While Frankl went on to do great things in psychiatry, at that moment, his invitation was only to contemplate this prayer. He could do no more. The highest wisdom of man meets the simple but profound command to love God above all.
Interestingly, the tone of today’s Gospel is unusual; the scribe doesn’t question Jesus in an adversarial way. This is about the only time we hear Jesus in a nurturing conversation on the Scriptures with a religious authority figure. Rather, the scribe demonstrates the essence of the Shema perfectly by embracing Jesus’ answer, recognizing its truth. Adding his agreement, the scribe affirms this prayer from the heart, stating that its value is worth more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices. God deserves our total and complete love!
Jesus adds the second part, which is found in the book of Leviticus 19:18b,
“You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
The question we might ponder is how well do I love myself? In fact, this is not a choice but a commandment that is embedded in the first. We can opine on how well the world in general loves “our neighbor,” but that is not the commandment here. Regardless of what is going on “out there,” how well do I love myself, and how does that reflect in my actions towards all whom I encounter?
These are the tough questions as we journey through Lent. Self-love is not selfish love. The latter demonstrates a lack of care for others; it is a me-me worldview.
Self-love demands that we take responsibility for who we are, what we say, and what we do. It honors humility and service to others, always grounded in the love of God and neighbor. It is our sacred call!
Our first reading is also one used in Jewish liturgical prayers. It is recited on what is considered the saddest day in the Jewish calendar, commemorating the destruction of the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem. These times are among the lowest times in the life of the Jewish people and their journey with God. The prophet Hosea speaks beautifully to Israel, inviting them to return to the Lord. How the Lord wishes them and us to return to him, to be healed of all our addictions, to dwell in his garden in peace.
As we continue our Lenten journey, we are invited to remember the greatest commandment and to root out all that blocks our path to God. Despite our human imperfections, we continue to move forward with faith and trust.
