9th WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
LOVE IS MORE THAN SACRIFICES
Introduction
Our text is a profession of faith and a liturgical hymn. The profession of faith is made because Gnosticism was creeping in.
As there were so many rules of the Law to observe, it is easy to understand the desire of scribes to ask which was the key commandment. Twice a day pious Jews professed the “Hear, Israel,” with the love of God unique and very important. Jesus attaches to it love of neighbor too, as a total commitment that he will practice on the cross.
Opening Prayer
God our Father,
you want your heart to be
the measure of our love,
but you are always greater than our heart.
In this Eucharist, let your Son give us
a heart of flesh in which burns
a fire of love that cannot be extinguished,
and that prompts us to follow him all the way
to you and to all you have entrusted to us.
We ask you this through Christ, our Lord.
Reading 1: 2 Timothy 2:8-15
Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David:
such is my Gospel, for which I am suffering,
even to the point of chains, like a criminal.
But the word of God is not chained.
Therefore, I bear with everything for the sake of those who are chosen,
so that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus,
together with eternal glory.
This saying is trustworthy:
If we have died with him
we shall also live with him;
if we persevere
we shall also reign with him.
But if we deny him
he will deny us.
If we are unfaithful
he remains faithful,
for he cannot deny himself.
Remind people of these things
and charge them before God to stop disputing about words.
This serves no useful purpose since it harms those who listen.
Be eager to present yourself as acceptable to God,
a workman who causes no disgrace,
imparting the word of truth without deviation.
Responsorial Psalm
Your ways, O LORD, make known to me;
teach me your paths,
Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my savior.
R. Teach me your ways, O Lord.
Good and upright is the LORD;
thus he shows sinners the way.
He guides the humble to justice,
he teaches the humble his way.
R. Teach me your ways, O Lord.
All the paths of the LORD are kindness and constancy
toward those who keep his covenant and his decrees.
The friendship of the LORD is with those who fear him,
and his covenant, for their instruction.
R. Teach me your ways, O Lord.
Alleluia
Our Savior Jesus Christ has destroyed death
and brought life to light through the Gospel.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel: MK 12:28-34
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.
Intercessions
– That the Church for which Christ died may grow into a universal community of love, which makes God’s unconditional love visible to all people, we pray:
– That Christians everywhere may not be people of legalisms and outward observances but people with a heart, who do what they have to do and more because they are God’s children, we pray:
– That our anemic and dried-up love may become rich and spontaneous, like a fresh breath of life and joy, brightening the lives of those around us and a wordless song of praise to God, we pray:
Prayer over the Gifts
Loving God,
in this Eucharist, we celebrate
the memory of the sacrifice
of Jesus who showed us
the full extent of his love.
Let him make our love
as deep and as wide as his,
even if it will upset our settled ways.
May this be the sacrifice we offer you
through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Prayer after Communion
God our Father,
to be open to you and to your call,
to enter into the world of people
who are wounded by life
by other persons and by us too,
to hear their cries and to welcome all,
where will all this lead us?
By the strength of this Eucharist,
help us to encounter our neighbors,
to share their bread, their joys and miseries
and to kindle new hope in their hearts.
May this be our response to your love
through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Blessing
Indeed, to love one’s neighbor as oneself often demands sacrifices, and is, therefore, worth more than ritual sacrifices. May God inspires such a commitment and bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Commentary
Among Pharisees themselves, debate continued constantly on the relative importance of different commandments. The rabbis had identified 613 laws in the Scriptures. (This might sound a lot, but Imagine what is the toral number of laws in the Code of Canon Law of the Catholic Church? The Canon Law got a revised version just three days ago! There are 1752 of them!
It was a much debated question among rabbis: “Which is the greatest commandment? In the past two days, we read from Mark about the attempt of the Pharisees and the Sadducees to discredit and trap Jesus through their questions. But today, the question seems to be a genuine one. Jesus responds to the question with due seriousness.
Love God and love your neighbour – for Jesus, these two commandments together constituted a single one. It was precisely the practical love of one’s neighbour. Jesus’ answer was neither new nor surprising.
“You love your neighbour as yourself.” We all agree on the commandment to love God, because God can be loved, even if it is sometimes difficult. But when it comes to the neighbour, it is not very easy. Imagine loving someone whom I come across every day, I have him at work or study, I see him every day on the corner of our street, he could be someone who asks for alms on our streets …
You don’t have to ask “who is my neighbour”, because we know it very well. Really? Perhaps the truth is on the opposite: We know a little or practically nothing about who is my neighbour. Today Jesus precisely asks for knowing our neighbour.
Give signs that expresses that the other person is important. Because he/she is also a son/daughter of God, like me, and therefore that person is my sister. With the brothers we argue, we laugh, we cry. Not with all the “neighbors.” I am going to reach that degree of confidence, where I am genuinely in love with my brother, sister, neighbour. That no one can accuse us of not having taken the first step.
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6 June 2024
Mark 12: 28-34
Love is what we are here for
The readings today emphasise the importance of living a life centred on God. In the Gospel, a scribe asks Jesus about the primary commandment. Jesus responds by summarising the whole commandments of God given in the Books of Deuteronomy and Leviticus, emphasising the love of God as the first and primary commandment, adherence to which is possible only through loving one’s neighbour as oneself. Love of God and neighbour is superior to any form of sacrifice.
This first and greatest commandment is the basis of every norm of Christian conduct. Our love for God underlies all that we do, and our love for neighbours includes all, irrespective of their background or status. In fact, this commandment constitutes the essence of Christian life.
God’s Word is not chained, and His faithfulness is unwavering despite the limitations that often accompany the preachers of the Word. In today’s first reading, St. Paul speaks about the sufferings he endured for the Gospel and regards them as gains. Through our baptism, we are called to die with Christ and be brought to new life in the Spirit. Denying Christ leads to a voluntary separation, but even if we are unfaithful, God remains faithful, a constant source of reassurance and security in our lives.
The epistle encourages us to put aside worthless discussions and focus on our spiritual priorities. We are called to a completely different set of values in a world so marked by selfishness and lack of concern for others. The gospel that was preached to us is what we stand for. It is the path to life, truly the “good news” of God.