A man in his 30s once walked into St. Christopher’s Inn here at Graymoor seeking help. Though he was a lawyer and seemed successful, he admitted he had been drinking for many years. After an intervention organized by friends, he promised to cut back, but those promises remained unfulfilled.
He lived in a beautiful home, one of the few in the area with a pool, where his eight-year-old son often had friends over to play. One afternoon, as he began to drink, he noticed it was unusually quiet. Concerned, he asked his son, “Where are your friends?” The boy looked him in the eye and replied, “Their parents won’t let them come over anymore because of the way you are: your drinking, the shouting at Mom and me, and your falling down.”
That moment struck him profoundly. Despite having listened to professionals and making countless promises, it was this heartfelt conversation with his son that transformed his life. It became a moment of truth, a true conversion experience.
In today’s Gospel, we encounter a similar moment. Jesus distilled our faith into two essential commandments: love God and love your neighbor. This teaching came in response to a question posed by a scribe—a figure akin to a lawyer in those days. This exchange took place following contentious encounters with the Pharisees and Sadducees, who had joined forces in an attempt to discredit Jesus.
The scribe was sent to pose a trick question about which of the 613 laws given by Moses was the greatest. No matter how Jesus answered, He would inevitably offend someone. This was a familiar tactic; they had attempted to trap Him before, hoping to make Him appear foolish.
But when Jesus replied with a stunning answer, the scribe found himself caught between loyalty to his peers and the truth he had just heard. There was a palpable silence as he wrestled with this internal conflict. Jesus looked at him, not with triumph but with compassion, and in that moment, the scribe faced his own moment of truth.
He turned away from the expectations of his establishment and acknowledged that love for God and neighbor surpassed any rituals or sacrifices. In response, Jesus said to him, “You are not far from the reign of God.” We don’t know what became of the scribe afterward—whether he lost his position or faced consequences. What we do know is that this moment represents a powerful story of conversion.
The scribe moved from deceit to sincerity, allowing his innate decency to emerge after being overshadowed by ambition. His encounter with Jesus brought him back to his true self and restored his integrity. The complexities of legal debate faded in the light of the simple, profound truth he had received.
Many of us lead busy lives filled with careers, hobbies, and commitments, all of which are worthwhile. Yet, we must occasionally ask ourselves: Does our weekly worship truly impact how we live outside our own walls? How do we treat those at work or school? Do we comfort the sorrowful, visit the sick, or care for others beyond ourselves?
Let us remember the scribe’s insight: to love God and our neighbor as ourselves is more valuable than any sacrifice. This Gospel teaches us a profound truth that we must carry with us. If we embrace this message, like the man with the young son and the scribe, we too will experience our own conversion moment. Then we will be on the path to the reign of God.
