Not far

Mark 12:32-34

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 neighbor 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.

Silenced

by startling truth

The truth

that practising love

is more important

than all else

For loving God

with heart, soul and strength

must overflow

into love of neighbour.

This stark fact

requires no interpretation

no explanation

It requires no tweaking

It simply is.

Not easy to live up to

Demanding.

But the most important thing

in all the world.

Loving God

Loving neighbour

Which part of that

do we fail to understand

leaving us far

from the kingdom?