Not Far Is Not Near

Table of Contents

Let us reflect on “You are not far from the kingdom of God”

The passage from the Gospel of Mark, 12:28-34, reads as follows:

One of the scribes came up, and when he heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, 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; and 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.“
And the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher; you have truly said that he is one, and there is no other but he; 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, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.“
And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And after that, no one dared to ask him any question.

Reflection

This exchange between Jesus and the scribe offers a profound summary of the heart of the law and, by extension, the Christian life. Jesus affirms the Shema, a core declaration of Jewish faith: “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.” This affirmation calls us to place our love for God at the center of our lives, directing our whole being—our heart, soul, mind, and strength—toward Him.

Yet, Jesus goes further. The command to love one’s neighbor as oneself elevates interpersonal love to a divine mandate, inseparable from our love for God. Our love for others is a direct expression of our love for God, reflecting that all people are made in His image. The two commandments are intertwined; to fulfill one, we must also fulfill the other.

The scribe’s response reveals his understanding that true worship is not merely ritual or sacrifice, but a heartfelt devotion that expresses itself in love and respect for others. Jesus’ affirmation, “You are not far from the kingdom of God,” highlights that understanding and living this love brings one closer to the divine mystery of the Kingdom.

Points for Prayer and Contemplation

Total Love for God: How do you love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength? Reflect on areas where you feel closest to God and places where you feel a need to draw nearer.
Love of Neighbor: Who in your life is God calling you to love more fully, especially those whom you find difficult to love? Pray for the grace to see Christ in them.
Bridging the Commandments: Consider how your love for God informs and strengthens your love for others. In what ways do your actions reflect this unity of love?
Close to the Kingdom: Imagine Jesus saying to you, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” What thoughts, desires, or practices might help you take a further step toward this Kingdom?

Take time to ask God for the grace to live out these commandments with deeper commitment and sincerity, seeking His help to grow in love and understanding.

You are not far from the kingdom of God tells me that there is more than the shema…

Indeed, Jesus’ words—“You are not far from the kingdom of God”—imply that grasping the Shema and the commandment to love others is a step toward the Kingdom, but not the final step. As you observed, there is more, and that “more” is precisely the presence and invitation of Jesus.

The scribe has recognized the core truths of the faith—loving God entirely and loving one’s neighbor. But Jesus’ words suggest that entering the Kingdom requires more than understanding or even practicing these commandments. The scribe is close, but not yet fully inside, because the path to the Kingdom ultimately leads through Jesus himself.

This passage reveals that Jesus embodies the Kingdom of God. To move from “not far” to fully within the Kingdom, one must embrace Jesus and his teachings. The commandments, as central as they are, find their fullness in Jesus, who fulfills the law and draws us beyond it into a relationship that transcends commandments alone. By following Jesus, we enter a life where loving God and neighbor becomes a transformative journey led by God’s grace and guided by the example of Christ.

Reflecting on the “More” Beyond the Shema

Relationship with Jesus: Reflect on how your relationship with Jesus invites you to go beyond even the highest ideals and into a personal transformation. How does following Him expand or deepen your understanding of love and obedience?
Living the Commandments with Jesus: Imagine Jesus walking with you as you try to love God and others. How does His presence change your approach? What areas of your life do you feel He is inviting you to open to Him more fully?
Kingdom as a Journey: Consider that entering the Kingdom is not a single act but a journey—a continuous movement toward God, led by Jesus. Where might He be inviting you to go deeper, to step further into His Kingdom?

Pray for the grace to let Jesus guide you in living these commandments, allowing His Spirit to make your heart fully aligned with God’s love and vision. This ongoing journey, led by Christ, draws us ever closer to the fullness of the Kingdom.

Prayer to Place Jesus at the Heart

A prayer to center Jesus at the heart of your meditation, inviting His presence to deepen your love for God and neighbor as you journey toward the Kingdom of God

Lord Jesus,
You who are the way, the truth, and the life,
Draw me close to Your heart
So that I may love as You love,
With a heart undivided, with a spirit unwavering,
In complete surrender to God’s will.

Teach me to love the Father
With all my heart, all my soul, all my mind, and all my strength.
Let my love for Him be not just words or intentions,
But the very breath of my being, a devotion that knows no end.
May my life become a reflection of the love You showed us,
The love that led You to lay down Your life, freely, for us all.

Jesus, place within me the courage to love my neighbor as myself.
Give me eyes to see others as You see them—
As beloved, worthy, and precious in God’s sight.
Where there is hurt, help me to offer compassion;
Where there is division, make me a channel of Your peace.

Yet, Lord, I know that to love as You command,
I must first welcome You to reign in my heart.
Come, Jesus, and take Your place within me.
Be the guide of my thoughts, the strength of my actions,
The one who draws me from “not far” to fully within Your Kingdom.

Transform my heart, that in loving You, I may truly love others.
Let me become Your hands, Your voice, Your presence in the world,
Bringing Your Kingdom closer with every act of love and mercy.

Amen.

Use this prayer as a way to invite Jesus into the center of your meditation, allowing His love to guide and deepen your understanding of the commandments. Rest in His presence, and ask Him to be the source from which your love flows—first toward God, then outward to others. This prayer is a reminder that in Christ, our love is strengthened, purified, and directed, drawing us ever closer to the heart of God’s Kingdom.

A testimony

Someone once said to me : “It is not enough to be good, we need to accept and serve Jesus…“

That testimony reflects a powerful truth. It aligns deeply with the Gospel’s call, which invites us beyond simply being “good” to an active, committed relationship with Jesus. Being good—living with kindness, honesty, and love—is a beautiful and essential foundation. But as that testimony suggests, the Christian journey asks for something more profound: to actively accept and serve Jesus as the center of our lives.

Jesus calls us not only to imitate goodness but to enter into a relationship with Him, letting His life transform ours. This means embracing His teachings, surrendering our own will to align with His, and allowing His love to flow through us in our interactions with others. Serving Jesus isn’t just a series of actions—it’s a way of being, rooted in love, trust, and a willingness to let Him shape our hearts.

When we accept and serve Jesus, we begin to see our lives as part of His mission. We become His hands and feet in the world, bringing His light into darkness, His comfort into pain, and His justice into situations of injustice. Serving Him means carrying His love and compassion into every corner of our lives, actively choosing to embody His love even when it’s challenging.

This is a transformative journey, one that invites us to live our goodness not just as a virtue but as a living relationship with the Lord. It calls us to move from “being good” to being Christ-like—to love as He loves, to serve as He serves, and to live each day with Him at the heart.

That testimony is a reminder of the depth and beauty of a life fully given to Christ. May you continue to draw closer to Him, finding strength, purpose, and joy in both accepting and serving Jesus.