Street Scene, Bethlehem
Mark 12:35-37
You ever have the experience of going to a teacher to get them to explain something they said in class? And the teacher provides a lengthy, confusing response. And you walk away even more confused and even more filled with questions than you did before? Yes, I know, many of my students had that happen when I talked about the “chair”. Even my grandsons are like: “please don’t go there; you’re making my head hurt”,
Often I was the one who offered too few words in explanation. I can’t begin to count how many times I would write a single word on a student’s report or homework assignment. VAGUE!!! Yes, I know, that was probably not very helpful!
In many ways, throughout the Gospels, Jesus does exactly that. He challenges us, makes us think and not just blindly swallow whatever He is saying. His parables always end with an unexpected twist that no one sees coming. He challenges us to rethink what it means to love, to be a neighbor, how to treat our enemies. Sometimes, most of the time, even the disciples are confused and have to ask Him later – can you explain that to us??
This is a short Gospel reading, only 2 verses. And yet I am scratching my head. The scribes say that the Christ is the Son of David but David calls the Christ LORD! So which is it? How can it be both? Jesus offers no answer or explanation. It is left to the crowd to consider what He meant. It is left to us to believe but that doesn’t necessarily mean to understand.
In the end, Jesus reminds us that following Him is not just simple lip-service. It is following Him with our whole heart, our whole mind and soul. Saying yes to Jesus is not just words but actions. It may be, at times, scratching my head in wonder. But it is always trusting in Jesus that He knows the way!