Lenten Reflections

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By Carter Brannon ’23

If you could ask God a question, what would you ask?

The philosophically-minded among us might ask some burning, unanswerable questions like “what is the meaning of life?

The theologians might ask for an explanation of some complicated aspect of the faith, like the Trinity. (Apparently St. Patrick’s shamrock doesn’t explain enough?)

We might ask about the future, or what heaven is like, or for a sign of hope.

We might ask why: Why did God make the world the way it is? Why is there so much suffering in the world, among those I love, or within myself?

The scribe’s question in the gospel reading is some combination of “what should I do?” and “what are you teaching?” After Jesus answered the scribe, “no one dared to ask him any more questions”, perhaps because his response answered any questions they might have had.

As I reflect on his answer to the scribe, I ask myself if I would dare to ask him another question.

Does Jesus’s answer in the gospel tell me everything I need to know?

Maybe it answers all my questions.

Maybe it tells me what to do to find the answers.

Maybe it tells me what to do to no longer have to seek the answers.

Faith is so much greater than any question, answer, or other commandment;

It is love.