Expedition Known | March 9, 2018

My mom and I are kind of obsessed with treasure hunting-type TV shows: Expedition Unknown, The Curse Of Oak Island, Mysteries At The Museum, and obviously any and every Bigfoot seeking show there is (#bigfootisreal). Every treasure to be found has an excellent story about how it was lost in the first place and/or why it needed to be hidden or protected. There are maps and legends and secret codes and plenty of drama. There are interesting characters from history and people that have even given their lives in the hunt for the treasure and in the keeping the treasure a secret. Buried treasure is such a compelling prospect and the mystery surrounding it may be even more compelling than the actual find. The exciting and frustrating part of said treasure hunting shows is that they never really find the treasure and it “remains a mystery.” What they do find is a plentitude of breadcrumbs supporting all the folklore from the dozens of experts called upon to help create a bonafide trail to “X marks the spot.” There are usually 1-3 legitimate legends that all make strong cases as to the whereabouts of the treasure and all stories are supported by morsels of evidence: an antique broach here, a confederate coin there, a mysterious carving in a rock, a map even. It is this tangible evidence that feeds each treasure hunter’s hunger for the quest (and if I’m being honest, mine too).

Why is hidden treasure so attractive to us? For me, it is putting all the clues together to find something so valuable that it needed to be protected and reserved for those that truly wanted to find it. It is using all the stories handed down, the wisdom from other explorers, and the map to find the prize. Every explorer hopes in the potential gain that the treasure offers be it monetary, fame, or just finishing the quest. The treasure has the ability to ground us in purpose while at the same time keeping us restless so that we continue moving forward. Since there are so many treasure hunting shows and so little treasure being actually found, I think it is safe to say that the hunt itself is as fulfilling as the found treasure.

Today’s gospel is like a treasure hunt and the explorer is so close to finding it, but he is missing one important piece of the puzzle. Let’s take a look. The scribes were questioning (challenging) Jesus (again) on Jewish law. I wonder if he just snickers every time they do this (he did create the universe!). The question is one that can be equivocated to the most elementary for any Jew, like 1+1=2. “Which is the first of all commandments?” Every Jew would know this answer in their sleep so it is kind of fertile ground for Jesus to shake things up. Of course, the Great Shema (Deuteronomy 6:4-5) is the right answer, “Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.” And then for the second greatest commandment (remember that we have been talking about the fulfillment of the law this week: LOVE), “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” What was so shocking about this second commandment was that Jesus changed the order around. Jewish law says to love God first, then yourself, and then others. Jesus says, God first, then others as our self. This is that sacrificial quality that is asked of us and shown to us by Jesus. After the scribe affirms Jesus in his answering, indicating that he had no further challenge for the teacher, Jesus lets him know, "You are not far from the Kingdom of God." X marks the spot! The map and the clues are revealed, the treasure of eternal life is left open in plain sight, but the missing piece lies within each of us. We must live it, truly and freely. Love God, love others, and love our self. But like the obvious clues and leads on a treasure hunt, there are hidden mysteries that keep the explorer from finding the spoils. Loving God, others, and our self in that order is way harder than it seems. This treasure hunt requires action and the action is simple, but not easy. How can we start putting the evidence back in the proper order today so that we can recognize the treasure right in front of us and become a guide for other explorers to do the same? .” Wherever your treasure is, there also your heart will be. Expedition Known: “Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Have a blessed day and it is well with my soul.

Reading 1 HOS 14:2-10

Thus says the LORD:
Return, O Israel, to the LORD, your God;
you have collapsed through your guilt.
Take with you words,
and return to the LORD;
Say to him, "Forgive all iniquity,
and receive what is good, that we may render
as offerings the bullocks from our stalls.
Assyria will not save us,
nor shall we have horses to mount;
We shall say no more, 'Our god,'
to the work of our hands;
for in you the orphan finds compassion."

I will heal their defection, says the LORD,
I will love them freely;
for my wrath is turned away from them.
I will be like the dew for Israel:
he shall blossom like the lily;
He shall strike root like the Lebanon cedar,
and put forth his shoots.
His splendor shall be like the olive tree
and his fragrance like the Lebanon cedar.
Again they shall dwell in his shade
and raise grain;
They shall blossom like the vine,
and his fame shall be like the wine of Lebanon.

Ephraim! What more has he to do with idols?
I have humbled him, but I will prosper him.
"I am like a verdant cypress tree"– 
Because of me you bear fruit!

Let him who is wise understand these things;
let him who is prudent know them.
Straight are the paths of the LORD,
in them the just walk,
but sinners stumble in them.

Responsorial Psalm PS 81:6C-8A, 8BC-9, 10-11AB, 14 AND 17

R. (see 11 and 9a) I am the Lord your God: hear my voice.
An unfamiliar speech I hear:
"I relieved his shoulder of the burden;
his hands were freed from the basket.
In distress you called, and I rescued you."
R. I am the Lord your God: hear my voice.
"Unseen, I answered you in thunder;
I tested you at the waters of Meribah.
Hear, my people, and I will admonish you;
O Israel, will you not hear me?"
R. I am the Lord your God: hear my voice.
"There shall be no strange god among you
nor shall you worship any alien god.
I, the LORD, am your God
who led you forth from the land of Egypt."
R. I am the Lord your God: hear my voice.
"If only my people would hear me,
and Israel walk in my ways,
I would feed them with the best of wheat,
and with honey from the rock I would fill them."
R. I am the Lord your God: hear my voice.

Verse Before The Gospel MT 4:17

Repent, says the Lord;
the Kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Gospel MK 12:28-34

One of the scribes came to Jesus and asked him,
"Which is the first of all the commandments?"
Jesus replied, "The first is this:
Hear, O Israel!
The Lord our God is Lord alone!
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, 
with all your soul, 
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."
The scribe said to him, "Well said, teacher.
You are right in saying,
He is One and there is no other than he.
And to love him with all your heart,
with all your understanding, 
with all your strength,
and to love your neighbor as yourself
is worth more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices."
And when Jesus saw that he answered with understanding,
he said to him,
"You are not far from the Kingdom of God."
And no one dared to ask him any more questions.