Not Far

What did Jesus mean when he told the scribe that he "was not far from the kingdom of God"? ( Mk 12:34). The man had just agreed with Jesus who told him that to love God and neighbor fulfilled the requirements for entrance to eternal life, so what more would bring him closer and even into this special kingdom?  Perhaps Jesus was intimating that the Kingdom of God is not a plateau where everything is flat and easy, but in reality is a mountain which demands a step-by-step effort in which LOVE grows, for the Kingdom of God is the Kingdom of Love, where love prevails, where love reigns.  In that love is forgiveness, mercy, trust, total abandonment. Since love is boundless, and grows daily, we can never say, "I've reached it, the journey is over."  No, not until our life on this planet is over, and who's to say love doesn't continue to grow "on the other side?"   Faithfulness to weekly Mass and daily prayer are two steps that cannot be neglected; love of all, friend and those we find difficult to love, also move us toward this "perfect love", to which Jesus was alluding.  What can I do today to bring me closer to the Kingdom of God?
Bro. Rene