Sunday, October 31, 2021: Twenty-third Sunday after Pentecost
Mark 12:28-34
One of the scribes came near and heard the Saducees disputing with one another, and seeing that Jesus answered them well, he asked him, “Which commandment is the first of all?” Jesus answered, “The first is, ‘Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” 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.
Reverently I placed the cap on my head in preparation for the holy ceremony of Shabbat in the room of a critically ill patient. It was Friday evening and he was dying, and his wife had graciously invited me to participate in the Jewish ritual that remembers the story of creation. In addition to a head covering for me, she had provided battery operated candles, and together with her rabbi we recited the ancient prayers: “Blessed are You, Eternal our God, Sovereign of the universe. You hallow us with Your commandments and command us to to kindle the lights of Shabbat.”
I had been companioning this patient’s wife during the last couple of weeks of his life, and I think she trusted me. I was so grateful to be able to participate in this holy ceremony. It didn’t matter that I wasn’t Jewish; what mattered was that I was a fellow human who understood a little about love and loss, and whose heart was breaking over this patient’s impending death. He was young and had school age children at home, as did I. His wife and I had connected on a level deeper than religion or culture.
When, finally, this patient sadly died, his wife and I together recited the words from today’s gospel, “Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength.” These beautiful words are the Shema, a Jewish person’s declaration of faith, and they are supposed to be the last thing Jewish persons say before they die. What better way to exit this earth than to reiterate one’s faith in and reliance on God and God alone.
By trusting me and in sharing the sacred ritual of Shabbat with me, the patient’s wife treated me as her neighbor. The outpouring of her heartfelt grief was a gift to me, as her honesty and authenticity helped me also be honest and authentic. Together we, a Christian and a Jew, formed a community of believers in the power of love.
Sally
Love has no boundaries! So beautiful in all ways! Thank you for sharing!
Thank you Betty for your kind words and you are welcome!