How do you understand something?  Is it simply a matter of processing information/data through your mental faculties in such a way that your cognitive framework can make sense and assign some type of meaning to the information, much like the cataloging process of a library?  Is ‘understanding’  the process of assimilation that provides a category of reference from which the information can be applied when called upon?  Looked at this way,  understanding is in fact a very useful human faculty and allows us to function in the world at large, especially with regards to the many tasks that are placed before us on a daily basis.  Understanding can assist us in the process of analyzing, making choices and taking actions.

“Let him who is wise understand these things; let him who is prudent know them.” (HOS 14: 2-10)

It appears that the prophet Hosea may be talking about a different type of understanding, one that engages us more directly and intimately.  It’s the understanding that comes with relationship.  Front and center, we have God the faithful parent Who is describing with great tenderness and passion the image He/She sees when looking upon us – referred to as “Israel” and “Ephraim” in the scriptures.  In seeing us “collapsed in our guilt,” we are indeed given the words of address or plea when we seek our return, “Forgive all iniquity and receive what is good…for in you the orphan finds compassion!”

And then we hear it…the overwhelmingly dear and beautiful description of God’s intention for us:

“I will heal their defection…I will love them freely…I will be like the dew…(we) shall blossom like the lily…(Our) splendor shall be like the olive tree and (our) fragrance like the Lebanon cedar…Again, (we) shall dwell in his shade and raise grain…blossom like the vine…(our) fame shall be like the wine of Lebanon!”

This is such extravagant and poetic love language that our God uses to describe how we appear in Her loving gaze, how beautiful our humility is in His countenance!  This is an understanding, on God’s part, of boundless compassion for us, and on our part, an understanding of humble acceptance and appreciation tempered with authentic measures to truly receive the great gift.

Mark’s gospel today (MK 12: 28-34), provides us with another picture, this time one that illustrates how this authentic acceptance would look in our lives.  As the wise scribe affirms Jesus in his answer concerning the “FIRST” of all the commandments, we watch the scribe himself paint the very demanding portrait of what this acceptance of the Love of God with our entire self entails.

“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”

To say something is not the same thing as making it true and real in our lives.  We don’t hear much more about this scribe other than Jesus’ reply:

 “And when Jesus saw that he (the scribe) answered with understanding, he said to him, ‘You are not far from the Kingdom of God.’ ” (MK 12: 28-34)

Mark seems to making the point that Jesus sensed that the scribe understood this beyond the words themselves.  Perhaps this scribe could appreciate the overwhelming realization of the lavish bestowal of God’s very Self upon us in creation, Incarnation, Salvation, and every other REALIZ–ation.  A realization is not something for us to wrap our minds around, so much as it is something to which we should open our hearts!  Could it really be a matter of simply letting it in – this Love of God’s Self that cannot help but move through and onward in a transformative thrust, which for us means – out to others?

It seems that we can become conduits of God’s love, when we understand with our hearts the great saving grace that God’s very Self (Mercy) grants us.  We are of and in God’s mercy all the time, and that’s how it can be possible to love God with all our heart, mind and strength, and simultaneously love our neighbor as ourself.

God’s love cannot stop – this is an impossibility.  But when we try to frustrate the flow of God’s love, there are painful consequences in trying to do so.  We call this ‘sin.’  If we can understand ourselves to truly be created and sustained in God’s love , i.e.,  God’s Self, then our self is in God.  Perhaps this is why the Scripture does not say “and love your neighbor as you love yourself,” but rather says “love your neighbor as yourself.”   To love as God!  To understand God’s love is to accept it and in the process let it flow onward in relatedness to others!

This may be some pretty heavy stuff, but it helps me to remember that there is always the opportunity to return to God, as we hear in Hosea.  We are helpless, homeless and fragile forever in the eyes of the One who loves us so dearly!  And we are carried in this compassionate gaze together!  As Hosea reminds us, in relationship, orphaned together, we find compassion.

Peace

Thomas

   (Originally published March 22, 2016)