Monday, April 30, 2007 Alipio: Don't give up on the hard cases By Fr. Jose Alipio The Yoke
Mk 12:28-34
READING the Gospel of Matthew, we are struck by the identity of the enemies of Jesus. Those enemies are grouped together as "the Scribes and the Pharisees."
Who were the Scribes and the Pharisees? The Scribes were the trained religious leaders of the day -- the scholars who had spent long years in the study of the scriptures and were recognized as expert authorities.
The Pharisees were members of a reform religious movement that wanted to extend the claims of faith to every aspect of everyday life. These were people who were wholly dedicated to living a holy life in separation from all the corrupting influences of the world.
Given the concerns of the Scribes and the Pharisees, it is no wonder that they were troubled by Jesus. Here was a common man who mingled with common people in pursuit of the Kingdom of God.
But today's gospel lesson is a reminder that Jesus got through to even his harshest enemies on occasion. One of the scribes asked Jesus which is the greatest of all the commandments.
Jesus replied that the entire law could be summed up in two commandments: Love God with heart, mind, soul and strength; love the neighbor as yourself. The Scribe wholly endorsed the interpretation of Jesus and, for all we know, that Scribe became the follower of Jesus. There is a good word on encouragement in this story: Don't give up on the hard cases! Don't give on that child who is always in trouble. Don't give up on that husband who has been less than honorable. Don't give up on the friend who is trapped on depression. Don't give up on that cynic who wants nothing to do with God. Sometimes the hard cases learn their lessons.
