REFLECTIONS TODAY
Unlike that of the others, the scribe’s attitude in today’s Gospel inspires us to imitate him. He comes to Jesus with an open mind and heart, observing with docility what Jesus is doing and teaching. In the end, both he and Jesus concur on the point that to love God and one’s neighbor is first and foremost and is above any form of sacrificial offerings. While the said scribe is not formally a disciple of Jesus, he is, by heart and mind, because he is docile and willing to learn from the Master. Indeed, it is a graced experience when two people open up to each other rather than close themselves in or even suspect each other. Both learn from each other and are mutually enriched. All friendships begin in this way.
For Pope Francis, the love of God and the love of neighbor are two faces of the same coin. He says, “Jesus taught once and for all that love for God and love for one’s neighbor are inseparable; indeed, more than that, they support one another. Even if placed in sequence, they are the two faces of a single coin: lived together they are the true strength of the believer! To love God is to live by him and for him, for what he is and for what he does. It means to invest one’s energies every day to be his collaborators in serving our neighbor without reserve, in trying to forgive without limits and in cultivating relationships of communion and fraternity” (Angelus, Nov. 4, 2008).
First Reading • Dt 6:2-6
Moses spoke to the people, saying “Fear the Lord, your God, and keep, throughout the days of your lives, all his statutes and commandments which I enjoin on you, and thus have long life. Hear then, Israel, and be careful to observe them, that you may grow and prosper the more, in keeping with the promise of the Lord, the God of your fathers, to give you a land flowing with milk and honey.
“Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone! Therefore, you shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength. Take to heart these words which I enjoin on you today.”
Second Reading • Heb 7:23-28
Brothers and sisters: The levitical priests were many because they were prevented by death from remaining in office, but Jesus, because he remains forever, has a priesthood that does not pass away. Therefore, he is always able to save those who approach God through him, since he lives forever to make intercession for them.
It was fitting that we should have such a high priest: holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, higher than the heavens. He has no need, as did the high priests, to offer sacrifice day after day, first for his own sins and then for those of the people; he did that once for all when he offered himself. For the law appoints men subject to weakness to be high priests, but the word of the oath, which was taken after the law, appoints a son, who has been made perfect forever.
Gospel • Mark 12:28b-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.
Source: “366 Days with the Lord 2024,” St. Paul’s, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.