Readings
30th Sunday in Ordinary TimeExod 22:20-26; Ps 18:2-3a, 3b-4, 47, 51; 1 Thess 1:5c-10; Matt 22:34-40
Homily Theme
Love is all you need
The theme I have chosen this week sums up the main message of the readings for Sunday. Many will remember it was also a popular song title of the Beatles in the sixties. The two possible opening prayers both mention faith, hope and love, but love is the most needed virtue. Open your bibles and read St. Paul’s words in 1st Corinthians, Chapter 13 makes an extra meditation about the importance of love for all who claim to believe in Christ.
Jesus tells us in the Gospel that the greatest commandment is that we love God, with all our hearts, with our souls and with all our minds. This is the greatest and most important commandment. The second is like it, we are to love our neighbor as ourselves. Really take note of His final comments. Jesus adds: to the whole law and the prophets depend on these two great commandments.
Since the commandment to love is of such importance we should take a moment to understand what exactly love is. Love is not a feeling, love it is a decision. We are not commanded to like everyone, but we are commanded to love everyone. If we translate the word love to mean care about God, to care about our neighbor and to care about ourselves, then we will fulfill God’s command to love God, and to love our neighbor and to love our selves.
The first reading is all about how we are to care for our neighbor. How we treat even the least of them. Remember Jesus said, “What you do for the least of my brethren you do for me.” When we really care, even when we feel nothing, we love God and neighbor. Really pray with fervor the psalm response. ‘I Love your Lord my strength’ and He will give you the strength to love Him, your neighbor and yourself. Let us really strive to work on this virtue this week.
The greatest witness of the early Christians and the reason Christianity spread through the Roman Empire, in spite of persecution, was the love they had for each other. Let us try to imitate them as we strive to be more like them. Remember to see Jesus in everyone you meet. Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta can be our inspiration as she saw Jesus in the poorest of the poor, and in the dregs of humanity. May she inspire us to love as she loved.
The Beatles got it right: Love is all you need.