Gospel Reflection Nov 3 – Fr. Lynch
Sunday, November 3
Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time
Mk 12:28b-34
Gospel:
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.
Gospel Reflection:
This past week I met with the 6th, 7th and 8th graders to discuss the sacrament of Reconciliation. The catechism teaches us that a sacrament “is an outward sign instituted by Christ to give us grace.” We used an examination of conscience to prepare for their confessions based on the Ten Commandments. I reminded the students that the Ten Commandments are not made by man for God, but rather by God for man.
Jesus teaches the people of his time on earth and us today that if you struggle with trying to follow all Ten, then try to follow these two: “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;” and secondly: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” There is no other commandment greater than these. He works for us by simplifying our complications. Take a moment and let that set in!
Jesus is the author of life. He knows every cell in our body. He knows us better than we know ourselves. He knows exactly what we need in our lives and exactly when we need it. He saw a need in our lives, which is part of the mystery of our faith, to be gifted by Him, His very self through the sacramental life of His bride the Church. We have true access.
Jesus shows us in sign and formula (word) that we NEED grace. Why do we not see the need for what He does? Because of the effects of sin which veils our minds and hearts, and which He came to remedy. The only reason Christ was sent to this earth to redeem us was for the forgiveness of our sins.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus answers one of the scribes’ questions with a quote from Moses. In doing so, He is teaching us that God’s word is eternal and true, that God’s word is THE answer to all of life’s questions. In other words, Jesus’ answer to the scribe is an answer the scribe already had access to, yet either forgot or wanted to see if Jesus would give a different answer.
My prayer for you today is that we follow Jesus’ commands and that whatever change God sees fit for you in your life, that you respond to His grace and change, rather than rely on yourself. Love God above all else and love your neighbor as yourself!
St. Brigid of Kildare, pray for us!
Father Lynch