Biblical Text: Mark 12.28-34, CEB
Gospel Lesson, 4 November 2012, 31st Sunday of Ordinary Time
For the past few weeks, and particularly next Tuesday, American voters will exercise that fundamental democratric act of attending the polls. In the U.S., the presidency of the republic, members of federal and state legislature, some governorships, and other local posts are up for the consideration of the electorate. In some states their will also be some legislative questions or constitutional amendments.Throughout the long, and at times cruel, political season focused primarily on the presidential race, there have been calls to vote on conscience. These calls have been made on the noble hopes of the citizenry. Be it the state of the national economy, and its impact in employment (or lack there of), or the position of the U.S. in the world, what the political discourse has done is to criticize the current government, or to identify the candidate of the opposition as a defender of free enterprise, and so out of touch with the American working and middle classes.
Whatever the case, the machinery of the government, and of the opposition, have accomplished making many sick with political ads that, far from speaking to the proposals of the parties in question, have filled the airwaves (and the internet) with attacks - many plain lies - that have effectively polarized the political conscience of the people, and still seek votes based on ignorant partisan and dogmatic loyalties.
In the midst of all this, which will certainly influence the mind of the voter, we find the Church, many of whose members will participate actively in the voting process. The propaganda of the opposition (and let's not be naïve to that of the party in power) has polarized American Christianity as well. Instead of the classic division between liberal and conservative Christianity, both of which sought to keep fast theological orthodoxy, we see again a Christian right and a Christian left which, to me, do a diservice to the witness to the Gospel. It is in the midst of a polarized environment, and within a vague projection of the Gospel in the U.S., that millions of Christians will go to the polls, being asked to vote with a conscience informed with their faith experience, and with the Biblical mandate.
It was in a polarized society, in 1st century colonial Judea, where Jesus had a conversation with a legal expert. After having conversations with priests, politicians, pharisees and sadducees, this expert, according to Mark, was surprised, and even agreed with him. It appeared as if the expert, a scribe, wanted to pursue a conversation, one on one, with Jesus. His question was a projection of the polarization of his context. Although it might seem a simple, perhaps even naïve, question, for 1st century Jews, the question of "hierarchy" of the commandments was an issue of partisan identity, religious authority, and political power. Had it been on purpose, or a mere projection of his context, this was a charged question, as charged as the the times many were asked to live a social, political and religious life with a conscience informed by their religious experience and by their understanding of the Scriptures.
Far from providing a simple or polarizing answer, Jesus responds with principles that would be basic for any religious Jew - The Lord is the one God, and we are to love God with all we are, and we are also to love the neighbor as ourselves.
The law expert seems to be immediately convicted. He even repeats Jesus' reaching in his answer. What's more, he makes a connection between the cold requirements of the law with the more active proclamation of the prophets. He intertwines morals with action, ethics with witness. To love God with all ones being, and to love neighbor, said the expert, "is much more important than all kinds of entirely burned offerings and sacrifices.” (33b)
The political propaganda of this election cycle has sought to disguise their pursuit of political advantage with morals and ethics. For many it is truly easier to listen, and to agree, with messages that more or less sound like we think we believe in. Nonetheless, the Christian community - in the Holy Scriptures and in our theological traditions - is not called to vote for what more (or less) seems Christian. Once we have received understanding by the witness of the Christ, much like that law expert, Christians are called to intertwine philosophical thought with acts of solidarity. To follow Christ is to know orthodoxy and do orthopraxis.
Mark goes further to say that Jesus say that the expert had answered with wisdom, and that his response showed that he was not far from the kingdom of God. May God inspire in Christian voters a wise vote, one that is casted not in what appears good, but one based on our experience of God that shows an active Christ. May we be able to say with our vote, like that expert in Mark 12, "God is one and there is no other besides him. 33 And to love God with all of the heart, a full understanding, and all of one’s strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself is much more important than all kinds of entirely burned offerings and sacrifices." Maybe, with our vote ourselves and our communities will be closer to the kingdom of God.
