Friday of the 3rd week of Lent
Gospel: Mark 12:28-34
In today’s Gospel, Jesus responds to the scribe by revealing the heart of God’s law: to love the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love our neighbor as ourselves. The scribe recognizes the truth of this teaching, and Jesus tells him that he is “not far from the Kingdom of God.” Yet the Gospel subtly reminds us that being close is not the same as entering. Lent challenges us not to remain merely near the Kingdom through good understanding or sincere intentions, but to step fully into it through lived love. The Kingdom of God becomes real when love of God and love of neighbor shape our daily choices, relationships, and priorities. The invitation of Christ is not simply to admire the truth of the Kingdom, but to allow that truth to transform the whole direction of our lives. Let’s reflect: Lent is choosing to enter the Kingdom of God by living the commandment to love God completely and our neighbor sincerely.
Don Giorgio