Scripture readings for this reflection can be found at Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time | USCCB
In our gospel for today the friction continues between Jesus and the Pharisees and scribes. They thought that they could trap Jesus with the question, "Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?" According to Jewish law, there are 613 commandments to be followed So this list goes well beyond the 10 Commandments that we, as Catholics, follow. This list has laws for every aspect of life, from worship and praise of God, to how you are to treat our neighbors (both Jewish and Gentiles), down to the dietary laws that observant Jews were expected to follow.
Jesus, as an observant Jew, knew these laws well. But he rightly pointed out that the reason for these laws is to love God with our whole being: mind, body and soul, and to love our neighbor as ourselves. These laws point out that we are to love all people, both those we know within our own faith community, and those people that may appear to be different from us and may believe differently than we do. We are to love all people no matter what our differences may be. It's very challenging. But it's what we are called to do.
As we go throughout our day today and the week ahead, let us remember this law of love from Jesus. God is always to be the center of who we are. Living always in the presence of God is what we are to strive to do. And when we encounter other people during the week, in addition to those in our family, we are to treat them with love and respect. Every encounter with another person is an encounter with someone made in the image and likeness of God. It is challenging, but it's what we are called to do. We need to treat others as we would treat Christ.
There will be times when we encounter someone that is difficult to get along with. It's okay to distance yourself from that person, but then, as you do so, pray for that person and his/her intentions. We never know what that person may be going through that makes them difficult to get along with us, but praying for them is always the best way to respond and the right way to show them love and respect.
Lord Jesus Christ, help us to live out your commandment of love of God and of neighbor in all we do. Amen
From Arlene B. Muller
ReplyDeleteThere is a similar account of an encounter between Our LORD JESUS & a teacher of the law in either Mark, Luke or both (i.e., the other Synoptic GOSPELS) that I love.
First, the teacher of the Law asks Our LORD JESUS to name the greatest commandment. Our LORD answers with the two greatest commandments as above. The teacher of the Law responds with words somewhat like this [I am trying to quote from memory]: "Excellent, Teacher, you are right in saying there is none but Him, & to love our neighbor [as ourselves] is better than any sacrifice." And then JESUS said "You are not far from the Kingdom of GOD." And nobody dared to ask Him any more questions.
So in this account the teacher of the Law was apparently sincere, unlike the lawyer in the GOSPEL of Luke who wished to justify himself & to whom Our LORD JESUS told the Parable of the Good Samaritan.
I found out from Father Robert Armato's homily today that the pomegranate is used as a symbol in both Judaism & Christianity. Each pomegranate contains 613 seeds to represent the 613 laws in Judaism!