31st Sunday, Year B: Homily by Fr. Justin Adiele
THEME: “BE RULED BY THE LOVE OF GOD”
INTRODUCTION
In interpreting the Decalogue (Ten Commandments of God), the Old Testament Jewish Rabbis ended up listing 613 precepts of the law. They went further to classify them into 248 commands and 365 prohibitions. These were further classified into light and grave laws. It became a big debate among the Jews to determine which laws are light or grave; which ones have more binding force or less; which ones should rule us. Jesus in the gospel reading of today grappled with the same problem; which is the first or greatest of all the laws? His answer was very simple; love of God and neighbor! Every other law is centered on Love.
THE FIRST READING (DEUT. 6: 2–6)
In the first reading, Moses invited Israel and all of us today: “Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God is one Lord: and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might.” This love is not just professed with the mouth but with our actions which bulges down to fearing the Lord by keeping all his statutes and his commandments as we know them. Be careful to do them; that it may go well with you; Moses explained!
THE SECOND READING (HEB. 7: 23–28)
The second reading talked about the priestly role and office of Christ which he has done and continued permanently to do for our sake out of love. He is able at all times to save those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. The love of God and the love of Christ for us has made him to continue to play a permanent role in our sanctification not just by mere words; he is our constant and inter-generational victim, carrier and expiator of our weaknesses and sins. Let us make it easier for Jesus by repenting and reducing the amount and weight of our sins on Him.
THE GOSPEL READING (MK. 12: 28–34)
In the gospel reading, when a Scribe asked Jesus the first (greatest) of all the commandments, Jesus cited the first reading of today: “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.” Jesus also cited the second of all: “you shall love your neighbour as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.” If you can live up to these two commandments, you are not far from the kingdom of God, said Jesus. What then does true love of God and neighbor imply? True love of God/neighbor will prompt you to do tremendous things for God and neighbor. It will prompt you to perform virtuous actions and not wicked actions. It will prompt you to put your own convenience and pleasures behind to please God. True love will prompt you to give preference to whatever will promote God’s honor, name and glory.
CONCLUSION:
Love of God entails doing whatever is within our power to secure the honour and glory of God and good of men. Christ himself gave us a clue when he said; “If you love me, keep my commandments.” Hence, to love God is to live life free from sin and to keep his commandments. An artist who was painting Lincoln’s portrait in the White House, asked him about his religion and Lincoln replied: I have no religion, I never joined any Church. But any Church that inscribes over its altar as its sole qualification for membership, the words of the Saviour; “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and thy neighbor as thyself”, that church I will join with all my heart and all my soul. Our religion, our code/law, our goal is Love!
Happy Sunday!
Fr. Justin