As we gather to celebrate the 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B, the readings invite us to reflect deeply on the essence of our faith: love of God and love of neighbor. These themes are beautifully woven through the passages from Deuteronomy, Hebrews, and the Gospel of Mark, offering us a profound understanding of what it means to live a life rooted in love.
First Reading: Deuteronomy 6:2-6
In the first reading from Deuteronomy, Moses instructs the Israelites to fear the Lord and keep His commandments. He emphasizes the importance of loving God with all one's heart, soul, and strength. This passage introduces the Shema, a central prayer in Jewish tradition that begins with the words, "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one" (Deuteronomy 6:4). The Shema calls for an undivided love and commitment to God, reminding us that our relationship with Him should be the foundation of our lives.
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 18
The responsorial psalm echoes the theme of love and trust in God. The psalmist proclaims, "I love you, Lord, my strength" (Psalm 18:1). This psalm is a beautiful expression of gratitude and reliance on God's protection and deliverance. It encourages us to recognize God's presence in our lives and to respond with love and devotion.
Second Reading: Hebrews 7:23-28
The second reading from the Letter to the Hebrews presents Jesus as our eternal high priest. Unlike the priests of the old covenant, who were many and mortal, Jesus' priesthood is eternal and perfect. He offered Himself as the ultimate sacrifice for our sins, interceding for us before God. This passage highlights the depth of Jesus' love for humanity and His role as the mediator of the new covenant. It calls us to place our trust in Him and to recognize the transformative power of His sacrifice.
Gospel: Mark 12:28b-34
In the Gospel reading, a scribe asks Jesus which commandment is the greatest. Jesus responds by quoting the Shema and adding a second commandment: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself" (Mark 12:31). He emphasizes that there is no commandment greater than these two. This exchange underscores the inseparable nature of love for God and love for neighbor. True love for God naturally extends to love for others, and this love is the fulfillment of the law.
Reflection
The readings for this Sunday invite us to reflect on the centrality of love in our faith. The Shema reminds us that our love for God should be wholehearted and undivided. It calls us to prioritize our relationship with Him above all else. The psalm reinforces this message by expressing trust and gratitude for God's protection and guidance.
The Letter to the Hebrews deepens our understanding of Jesus' role as our eternal high priest. His perfect sacrifice and ongoing intercession reveal the depth of His love for us. This love calls us to respond with faith and devotion, recognizing that Jesus is the source of our salvation.
Finally, the Gospel reading challenges us to live out our love for God through our actions toward others. Jesus' teaching on the greatest commandments reminds us that love for God and love for neighbor are inseparable. Our faith is not just about personal piety but also about how we treat those around us. True love for God is reflected in our love for others, and this love is the essence of Christian discipleship.
Being a Catholic Christian is not just about going to Mass, praying and believing the truths of the faith. We must put all of this into practice. We do this by loving God with our entire self and one another. This is the summit of the Catholic faith in the Eucharist. When we become like Christ loving God, teaching of God and caring for others, this is when we have perfected Christianity. This is why these two commandments Jesus gave us are a summary of the 10 main commandments and the other 600 given in the Old Testament. They are a summary of the Catholic faith's goal.
We can go to Mass, and pray every second but if we do not love God and one another then those religious actions are useless. The reason why Jesus gave us the Church, Sacraments, Bible, and the teachings of the faith was to perfect in us these two great commandments. These are the building blocks to help us become like Christ. It is not an accident that these readings come to us close to the Solemnity of All Saints Day. This is how the saints became saints. The Church did not name them or promote them saints. God did not create them saints. They followed the Catholic faith to the best of their abilities and followed these 2 great commandments and fought the good fight earning the crown of glory in heaven. The Church simply confirms they are in the number of saints with canonization.
Without following these 2 great commandments, Catholicism cannot take hold of us. The graces we receive would just be set aside. No fruit will come about. We must love God with all of our being and love one another as ourselves. If we do not do this, then the problem is in us. We do not love ourselves.
As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves how we can deepen our love for God and our neighbor. Are there areas in our lives where we need to grow in love and compassion? How can we better embody the commandments of love in our daily actions? Let us strive to live out the teachings of Jesus, loving God with all our heart, soul, and strength, and loving our neighbors as ourselves. In doing so, we fulfill the greatest commandments and draw closer to the heart of our faith.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Thank you for reading and for your comment. All comments are subject to approval. They must be free of vulgarity, ad hominem and must be relevant to the blog posting subject matter.