FIRST READING
Deuteronomy 6:2–6
Moses spoke to the people, saying:
“Fear the LORD, your God, and keep, throughout the days of your lives, all his statutes and commandments which I enjoin on you, and thus have long life. Hear then, Israel, and be careful to observe them, that you may grow and prosper the more, in keeping with the promise of the LORD, the God of your fathers, to give you a land flowing with milk and honey.
“Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD alone! Therefore, you shall love the LORD, your God, with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength. Take to heart these words which I enjoin on you today.”
RESPONSORIAL PSALM
Psalm 18:2–3, 3–4, 47, 51 (2)
R. I love you, Lord, my strength.
I love you, O LORD, my strength, O LORD, my rock, my fortress, my deliverer.
R. I love you, Lord, my strength.
My God, my rock of refuge, my shield, the horn of my salvation, my stronghold! Praised be the LORD, I exclaim, and I am safe from my enemies.
R. I love you, Lord, my strength.
The LORD lives! And blessed be my rock! Extolled be God my savior, you who gave great victories to your king and showed kindness to your anointed.
R. I love you, Lord, my strength.
SECOND READING
Hebrews 7:23–28
Brothers and sisters:
The levitical priests were many because they were prevented by death from remaining in office, but Jesus, because he remains forever, has a priesthood that does not pass away. Therefore, he is always able to save those who approach God through him, since he lives forever to make intercession for them.
It was fitting that we should have such a high priest: holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, higher than the heavens. He has no need, as did the high priests, to offer sacrifice day after day, first for his own sins and then for those of the people; he did that once for all when he offered himself. For the law appoints men subject to weakness to be high priests, but the word of the oath, which was taken after the law, appoints a son, who has been made perfect forever.
ALLELUIA
John 14:23
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Whoever loves me will keep my word, says the Lord; and my Father will love him and we will come to him.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GOSPEL
Mark 12:28b–34
One of the scribes came to Jesus and asked him, “Which is the first of all the commandments?” Jesus replied, “The first is this: Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.” The scribe said to him, “Well said, teacher. You are right in saying, ‘He is One and there is no other than he.’ And ‘to love him with all your heart, with all your understanding, with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself’ is worth more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” And when Jesus saw that he answered with understanding, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And no one dared to ask him any more questions.
REFLECTIONS:
What is the purpose of God's law or commandments?
The Pharisees prided themselves in the knowledge of the law and their ritual
requirements. They made it a life-time practice to study the 613 precepts
of the Old Testament along with the numerous rabbinic commentaries. They
tested Jesus to see if he correctly understood the law as they did. Jesus
startled them with his profound simplicity and mastery of the law of God
and its purpose. What does God require of us? Simply that we love as he
loves! God is love and everything he does flows from his love for us. God
loved us first and our love for him is a response to his exceeding grace
and kindness towards us. The love of God comes first and the love of neighbor
is firmly grounded in the love of God. The more we know of God's love and
truth the more we love what he loves and reject what is hateful and contrary
to his will.
What makes our love for God and his commands grow in us? Faith in God
and hope in his promises strengthens us in the love of God. They are essential
for a good relationship with God, for being united with him. The more we
know of God the more we love him and the more we love him the greater we
believe and hope in his promises. The Lord, through the gift of the Holy
Spirit, gives us a new freedom to love as he loves. Do you allow anything
to keep you from the love of God and the joy of serving others with a generous
heart? Paul the Apostle says: hope does not disappoint us, because
God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit which
has been given to us (Romans 5:5). Do you know the love which conquers
all?
"We love you, O our God; and we desire to love you more and more. Grant
to us that we may love you as much as we desire, and as much as we ought.
O dearest friend, who has so loved and saved us, the thought of whom is
so sweet and always growing sweeter, come with Christ and dwell in our
hearts; that you keep a watch over our lips, our steps, our deeds, and
we shall not need to be anxious either for our souls or our bodies. Give
us love, sweetest of all gifts, which knows no enemy. Give us in our hearts
pure love, born of your love to us, that we may love others as you love
us. O most loving Father of Jesus Christ, from whom flows all love, let
our hearts, frozen in sin, cold to you and cold to others, be warmed by
this divine fire. So help and bless us in your Son." (Prayer
of Anselm, 1033-1109)
No comments:
Post a Comment