Jesus’ Greatest Miracle?

“One of the scribes came near and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that [Jesus] answered them well he asked him, “Which commandment is the first of all?” (Mark 12:28)

Hi Fighter,

This verse from the Gospel of Mark, chapter 12, introduces what I think may be one of Jesus’ greatest recorded miracles, if not His greatest.

As we’ve journeyed through Mark, we’ve seen Jesus heal the sick, help blind people see, get the lame walking, and even calm a storm. In this passage from chapter 12 though we see something really extraordinary. Jesus changes somebody’s mind!

‘People think they are thinking when they are merely rearranging their prejudices’.

We like to direct this aphorism at people we don’t respect. but I suspect that this is how we all operate most of the time. Perhaps ‘prejudices’ is too strong a term, but none of us goes into an argument as a blank slate. We have our convictions, and the older we get, the firmer those convictions become.

I was chuffed to get a call this week from one of my adult children, saying that they’d been thinking over my perspective on Israel-Palestine. Our earlier conversation had ended with me urging my beloved child to do more research, and I was encouraged to hear that my suggestion had been taken up. I felt less encouraged when I was told that some of the arguments supporting Israel’s actions seemed quite compelling!

I had to stop and take a breath. Here was someone I loved, wanting to discuss this rationally with me, but I’m not capable of rational argument on this subject. I can’t take anti-Palestine rhetoric seriously. I stopped listening to people trying to justify the Occupation years ago. Their opinions don’t make me think. They make me angry!

We extol open-mindedness, but how many of us are ever truly open-minded about things that are important to us? We build our lives on certain convictions, and the longer we live, the more firm those convictions become, held fast under the weight of lived experience consistent with those beliefs. Yet here in Mark 12 we have this Scribe – a man who had every reason to be suspicious of Jesus – concluding his dialogue with, “You are right, Teacher” (Mark 10:32)!

This encounter seems all the more remarkable when we recognise that we are at the pointy end of Jesus’ earthly ministry. Jesus has entered Jerusalem as king (Mark 12:1-11) and cleared out the Temple (Mark 11:15-17). He then endures three assaults from the religious vanguard:

• The chief priests, teachers of the law and elders demand He produce his credentials (Mark 11:27-33)
• The Pharisees and Herodians try to trick Him with a question about paying taxes (Mark 11:13-17)
• The Sadducees try to ensnare Him with a trick question about a woman who outlives seven husbands (Mark 11:18-27)

Who would have thought that in this context one of those clerics would come back to Jesus and ask Him a genuine question, and be convinced by Jesus’ answer?!

Interestingly, the narrative concludes with, “After this no one dared to ask him any question” (Mark 12:34). Most of the miracles Jesus performed got people talking. This one silenced them!

I don’t know whether I want to be too open-minded. I’m not planning on shifting any of my key convictions any time soon. Even so, I know that closing myself off from people I disagree with is a slippery slope, leading to self-delusion. I expect people to listen to me and take me seriously, so I should return the favour, and, as I learnt back in university, it is hard for anybody we disagree with to be completely wrong.

Lord, give me the grace to listen politely to people I can’t agree with, openness to those who have truths that I need to hear, and the wisdom to know the difference. 

Our Sunday Eucharist

We celebrated another wonderful Eucharist last Sunday. Thank you, Andrew Madry and Doug Pyatt, who displayed wisdom and grace in helping lead our discussion. Aaron Kheriaty’s reflection on the Letter to the Hebrews was also much appreciated.

Some shorts from the panel discussion are pasted below, and you’ll find Aaron’s homily further down. The full collection of Shorts from our weekly discussions, as ever, can be found on the Sunday Eucharist Instagram page.

Once again, my diary is looking a little light on boxing classes, and I do apologise to my team for not being able to maintain our regular training schedule. Even so, I don’t think any of you disagree with my priorities. If I can come home with some title belts, it will all be worth it.

Of course, while I am transfixed on my boxing matches, there are far more important battles going on around the world. The situation in the Middle East continues to spiral, and I have no idea what comes next. I’m grateful for Father Mark’s updates on www.israelandpalestine.org, and I’ve also started posting more to my Telegram feed.

As a friend said to me recently, “I was brought up thinking that our leaders were moral and upright and it was the other side who were evil. Now I’m wondering if I had it the wrong way around?” Everything seems to be in a state of flux at the moment. Maybe the silver lining is that more of us will be able to move beyond rearranging our prejudices and actually learn some difficult but necessary truths?

As we say in boxing, “keep your hands up”. That’s certainly what I’ll be trying to do tonight as I fight for the MBI World Middleweight title. You can watch the event live if you can afford the $30 fee (click here). Otherwise, keep an eye on my Facebook or Twitter feeds. Hopefully, you’ll see a pic of me pop up, wearing the belt. 😊

Keep me in your prayers as I do you.

Your brother in the Good Fight,