VERY FAR FROM EARTH
Late last year, humans were enthralled with the behavior of a comet named 3I/ATLAS. It’s only the third known comet that originated in a solar system other than our own. Observations showed that it did not shed gases and material as it approached the sun, like local comets do. This gave rise to some wild theories about what it was. However, now that it is leaving the inner planets behind, it is finally shedding those things. This is probably because, in its journey through interstellar space, it formed a crust around it. But after passing nearest to the sun in December, it heated the interior enough to cause the release of pristine ices that hadn’t been exposed to space for billions of years.

NOT FAR FROM THE KINGDOM
We read from Mark and James today that Jesus has said and done enough to make the teachers of the Law eager to catch Him in a contradiction. One of these religious experts challenges Jesus to name the most important command of God. Instead of falling into an argumentative trap, Jesus says that love of God and love of neighbor together make up the entire Law, even more important than sacrifice. Jesus says that the person who knows these commands is “not far from the kingdom of God.” Genuine faith is demonstrated by acts of obedience. Love is more than words; it is action.

Questions

• How many comets have you ever seen, if any?
• What does it mean to be close to the kingdom of God?
• When has your faith resulted in action?