Thirty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)
First Reading: Deuteronomy 6:2-6. Second Reading: Hebrews 7:23-28. Gospel: Mark 12:28b -34.
According to the research carried out by certain scholars, there are two words that appear most on a daily basis. The first is ‘LOVE’ and the second ‘MONEY’.
So many people talk of love every second of the day but do they all mean the same thing? The answer is in the negative.
To talk about love, we have different kinds.
We have erotic love. This kind of love is a love between two people who are bound by conjugal love. This kind of love is better expressed in marriage. However, we are not naive that this kind of love is being abused by so many people of different ages and statuses in life.
The second type of love is filial love. This is a type of love that binds those who are related by blood. A father can shower all his love upon his son or daughter. The same is applicable to the mother and son and daughter etc.
The last type of love is known as agape love. This is unconditional love that exists between God and His children. This kind of love is expected to be practiced by every person of good will. It is love that exists for the sake of God. It is genuine in the sense that the lover loves without expecting anything from the other person but for the sake of goodness and holiness.
When we hear that God is love, this is more the kind of love we understand although, God shows us also filial love since we are his children and belong to him.
In the first reading of today from the book of Deuteronomy 6:2-6, Moses gives the people of Israel an injunction to the way of life, prosperity, multiplicity, goodness, happiness and peace.
That way is only one, that’s the fear of God which is manifested through obedience to God.
How is this obedience manifested?
It is manifested through agape love shown to the Lord as Moses said, “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.
When Jesus was asked in the gospel by one of the Scribes, “Which commandment is the first of all?” Jesus answered, “The first is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one; and 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.’ The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ Jesus quoted the first reading from the book of Deuteronomy 6:2-6.
So how do we show love to God and our neighbours?
We can show love to God by:
1. Keeping his commandments
2. Worshipping him.
3. Serving him.
Secondly, Jesus says that we must love our neighbours.
How do we love our neighbours? I would say that we can apply golden rule here. Whatever you wish your neighbour to do for you, please do it for him or her. This entails, forgiveness, almsgiving, praying for your neighbours, among others.
We pray that we may be able to show love to God and our neighbours also. We pray that we may make genuine sacrifices for the good of others and the salvation of humanity.
May Almighty God bless us and protect us from all evils through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Have a great and blessed Sunday.
Rev. Fr. Ambrose Onyeka Anene SDB is the Parish Priest of Church of the Archangels, Gaduwa, Abuja, the FCT.
