I found it interesting as the scholar ask Jesus what he must do to enter eternal life and Jesus asks him what is written in the law? I then began to question how we interpret the law. We often think of laws as being restrictive but do we ever think of the law as being liberating or nurturing? Laws are not meant to limit us but - to free us and - create an environment that fosters growth and creativity and love for God and for our neighbor. When I first read in today’s Gospel that a scholar asked Jesus what he must do to enter eternal life, it made me wonder why someone who was highly educated needed to ask this question in the 1^st place and where was he going with this? Was he being sincere in asking what he needed to do to enter eternal life or was he really asking what was the least he had to do - to enter eternal life?  

When I first entered seminary, I asked a friend how much I needed to study to do well on a test and he said all of it. I then said to him but what are the major areas I need to be familiar with to do well and he again said all of it. Thinking he still wasn’t understanding what I meant I asked him a third time but what are the most important things I need to know to get a good grade and he said to me, Tom what part of all of it don’t you understand? I then said to him in frustration  I can’t study all of it and he said to me, well then - you won’t do very well here. 

When asked what he must do to enter eternal life Jesus - in so many words - responds: You’re a scholar what is written in the law, how do you read it? We are then told the scholar responds correctly when he said you shall love the lord your God with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind and love your neighbor as yourself and though he got part right, he then tries to justify himself by asking who’s my neighbor. In other words he wants to know if he has to be nice to everyone? Jesus then tells him the story of a man who was robbed and beaten and left to die and that a priest and Levite who one would think would stop to help - passed him by. He doesn’t receive help until a Samaritan, one who is ostracized from the community ministers to him. We are told he not only cares for him, but he leaves money to his caregiver should anything else need to be tended to. The Samaritan wasn’t looking at what was the least he had to do, but how he could best provide for him.

I’m thinking if I asked my friend in seminary who my neighbor was - he would respond - what part of everyone don’t you understand. Maybe we all need to ask - how well we know our neighbor, and what is our relationship with Jesus like? Do we really want to know him, or do we just want to love him a little? Last Spring nine children received 1^st holy communion, Today we are having 1^st communion on the island for one little boy who had to wait - and who was anxiously waiting to receive Jesus for the 1^st time, He has learned that he wants to receive him with his whole heart and his whole mind and his whole being, he doesn’t just want to love him a little but he wants to love him completely and he wants to love his neighbor as himself.  Whenever we receive a sacrament or renew vows on the anniversary of marriage, we do it with our whole heart not just a little. Today we have two couples who will renew their vows and I’m sure neither of them would be here today if they asked what was the least they needed to do to make their marriage work. Relationships won’t survive unless each person is willing to give everything they have to the person they made a lifelong commitment to, The same is true in your relationship with God. How much are you really invested in your relationship with God?  

I often hear people ask me - why they have to go to church - when they can pray outdoors while looking at God’s beautiful creation or why they can’t pray when they are hunting or on a fishing boat and I tell them they can pray at those times, but I also ask them but do you? Maybe the question they are really asking is what is the least I need to do to enter into heaven. I honestly believe that if people are realty praying to God when they are outdoors they will be drawn into a church to pray. Our faith journey is more than just praying by ourselves, but its an invitation for us to be in community. Jesus said where two or three are gathered in my name there I am in the midst of you. Listen to his words again, where two or three are gathered in my name there I am in your midst. We are called to be together – to be in communion - to give praise and honor to God.; We gather to receive Jesus’ body and blood in holy communion for when Jesus enters our hearts we are in a holy communion with him Jesus said in John Chap. 6 unless you eat of my body and drink of my blood, you will not have life in you. When we eat of his body and drink his blood - we will have eternal life. It appears the scholar was really asking of Jesus what’s the least I need to do to get to heaven. You and I are called by God to give of ourselves completely to him and completely to our neighbor Jesus said whatever you do for the least of my brothers and sisters you do for me. 

I came across a story that took place in France in 1880 of a priest looking for a place to stay for the night after having traveled far to raise funds to build a church. After searching for many hours he found a parish church where he would be able to stay for the night. The pastor however seeing the priest to be poorly dressed had him stay in the attic for the night. Years later the priest who stayed at the rectory was canonized a saint who is today known as John Bosco. The pastor being still alive during his canonization said if I had known who he was I would have had him stay in the best room in the house. If I had only known. The only thing any of us will ever know about the people we meet is that they are created in the image and likeness of God and that’s all we need to know We don’t need to be concerned about how people look or how to interpret God’s law we just need to look into our hearts. The book of Deuteronomy in today’s reading  addresses those questioning how to understand God’s law, when it declares:

The command that I enjoin on you today is not to mysterious or remote for you. it is not up in the sky that you should say who will go up in the sky and get it for us and tell us of it that we may carry it out. Nor is it across the sea, that you should say who will cross the sea and get it for us and tell us of it that we may carry it out. No it is something very near to you, already in your mouths and in your hearts – you have only to carry it out. I remember this young man who was a great athlete and great coordination and he decided to entered the seminary, I will always remember when this newly ordained priest raised his hands as he elevated the consecrated host, his hands were shaking and I said to myself he knows he knows that he is holding the body of Christ in his hands. Remember the words From Deuteronomy It is already in his heart, he only has to carry it out. He already knew in his heart he lifted up the body of Christ no one had to tell him, What must I do to inherit eternal life? 

If you love a little, you have - little chance to get there – If you love with your entire being you have - a great chance to get there –If you don’t love at all, chances are - you won’t get there. Loving God is not something we can do just do - half-way, but we have to Love God with all our heart and all our soul and all our mind and all our strength and love our neighbor as ourselves and then - you will enter into eternal life