Thirty First Sunday of the Year November 03, 2024
Deuteronomy 6:2-6; Hebrews 7:23-28; Mark 12:28-34
It was during the Korean War in 1954. American soldiers were fighting the war
in Korea and it was hard. It was the
cold winter and the war had moved to the forest area and the Americans became
the target. There was knee-deep snow and
in that situation, 43 American Soldiers were captured and were put in a small
hut. They had no fire to warm them and
did not have sufficient clothes to protect them from severe cold. The only way
to warm them was by huddling themselves; the body heat would keep them
alive. Two persons were sick with diarrhea in the group, and it was not
pleasant to have them in the group. Then one soldier got up, picked one and put
him outside the door, and came to pick the other to place him outside. Both
died instantly. He returned immediately and sat to warm himself with the
others. No one said anything. The war
was over and the forty-one were rescued. Someone told of the episode and there
was the psychological court-martial. There was one accused and forty witnesses.
They were asked the same three questions: did you see what was happening and
all answered saying, they did see it all. The second question was whether they
knew what would happen and all said that they knew of instant death. The final
question asked was why you didn’t do anything and each answered the same way:
it was none of my business. The other is not my business.
As we gather today we are invited to reflect deeply on the
readings presented to us, particularly the Gospel which highlights the essence
of our faith and the call to love wherein all are part of my business in the
Kingdom of God.
In this passage, we encounter a scribe who approaches Jesus
with a question that resonates through the ages: “Which commandment is the
first of all?” This inquiry is not merely academic; it reflects a genuine
desire to understand the core of the Jewish faith and, by extension, the heart
of our Christian calling. Jesus responds with clarity and conviction, quoting
the Shema from Deuteronomy 6:4-5: “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord
is one; you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your
soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.”
This commandment is foundational. It calls us to a total and
undivided love for God. To love God with all our heart means to engage our
emotions and desires in our relationship with Him. To love Him with all our
soul signifies a commitment that encompasses our very being. Loving God with
all our mind invites us to seek understanding and wisdom in our faith, while
loving Him with all our strength challenges us to act with vigour and
determination in our service to Him and others.
However, Jesus does not stop there. He adds a second
commandment: “You shall love your neighbour as yourself.” This addition is
crucial. It emphasizes that our love for God is intrinsically linked to our
love for others. We cannot claim to love God if we do not extend that love to
our neighbours. This dual commandment encapsulates the essence of Christian
living. It calls us to a holistic approach to faith—one that is not merely
about personal piety but is also deeply relational and communal.
This message is more relevant than ever in our contemporary world, where division and strife often dominate the headlines. We are called
to be agents of love and reconciliation. The challenge lies in how we embody
this love in our daily lives. It requires us to look beyond ourselves and to
recognize the dignity and worth of every person we encounter.
The scribe’s response to Jesus is noteworthy. He
acknowledges the truth of Jesus’ words and affirms that loving God and neighbour
is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices. This recognition is
a profound moment of understanding. It reminds us that our rituals and
practices, while important, must flow from a heart that is genuinely oriented
towards love. Our faith must be lived out in action, grounded in love, and
expressed through our relationships.
As we reflect on this Gospel, we might ask ourselves: How do
we live out this commandment of love in our own lives? Are there areas where we
struggle to love God fully? Perhaps we find ourselves distracted by the
busyness of life or weighed down by worries and anxieties. In these moments, we
are invited to return to the source of our strength—our relationship with God.
Similarly, when it comes to loving our neighbours, we must
consider who our neighbours are. In the parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus
expands our understanding of neighbour to include those whom society may
overlook or even despise. Are we willing to reach out to those in need, to
those who are marginalized, or to those with whom we may disagree?
In practical terms, loving our neighbour can take many
forms: offering a listening ear, providing assistance to those in need,
advocating for justice, and fostering community. It is about creating spaces
where love can flourish, and where people feel valued and respected.
Let us take these commandments to heart. Let us strive to
love God with our whole being and to express that love through our actions
towards others. In doing so, we fulfil the greatest commandment and bear
witness to the transformative power of love in our world.
Let us pray for the grace to embody this love in our lives.
May we be inspired by the example of Christ, who showed us what it means to
love unconditionally. As we go forth from this gathering, may our hearts be
ignited with a passion for God and a commitment to serve our neighbours.
Happy Sunday
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