FIRST READING: Deuteronomy 6:2-6. Moses said to the people, fear the Lord your God, you and your son and your son's son, by keeping all his statutes and his commandments, which I command you, all the days of your life; and that your days may be prolonged. Hear therefore, O Israel, and be careful to do them; that it may go well with you, and that you may multiply greatly, as the Lord, the God of your fathers, has promised you, in a land flowing with milk and honey. "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. And these words which I command you this day shall be upon your heart." EXPLANATION: Moses, having received the Ten Commandments from God on Mount Sinai, set about teaching them to the Israelites, God's Chosen People. He promised them temporal rewards if they remained loyal to their God who was the one and only God (verse 4), and would prove their loyalty by observing his commandments. Today's excerpt from the book of Deuteronomy especially stressed the sincere, heartfelt love that the Chosen People should feel for God. Fear...God: Fear in this context means reverence, not dread. The people should reverence and respect God.
your son...son's son: Down through all generations this reverence for God is demanded.
all...your fife: This reverence for God was to be practiced in every way and at all times.
days...prolonged: This was a temporal reward. A long life was always looked on by the Israelites as a special blessing from God.
multiply greatly: A large family, another temporal blessing, was greatly esteemed by the Chosen People. God had promised Abraham a very numerous progeny---his descendants would be "as numerous as the stars in the sky" (Gn. 15: 4).
flowing...honey: This was the land of Canaan which God had promised to give to the Chosen People to be their homeland. Compared with the desert, through which they had traveled since they left Egypt, it was a fertile land.
Tne Lord...Lord: Monotheism is here expressed as it is elsewhere in Deuteronomy (4: 35, 32: 39 etc.), as also is the oneness of Yahweh compared with the multiplicity of false gods about which they would hear in Canaan.
love...might: God must be loved with all the power a man possesses; by using the three terms: heart, soul, and might, Moses is emphasizing this obligation. APPLICATION: The relationship between God and man is a relationship of love. God is love and because he is love he created the universe and made man the master and masterpiece of that creation. Love, like heat, is self-diffusive, that is, its nature is to spread itself out. The spreading out of God's love was creation; he made things and beings who could share his love with him. Chief among his created beings was man to whom he gave the capacity to appreciate love and to return it. Now, God could have given a limited portion of his love to men, that is, he could have let men, like the other creatures on earth, be content with whatever gifts of God's love they could receive in this world. In other words, earthly death could have been their final end. However, God's love, being infinite, went far beyond this as regards men. In creating them, God gave them the faculties which place them away above all other earthly creatures. He made men capable of appreciating love and of reciprocating it---something the other creatures on earth cannot do. God saw that in the short space of this earthly life men could not satisfy the faculty for loving and being loved. He, therefore, planned for men a future life---a life wherein men could fully appreciate the immensity of divine love and return to the that fullness of love according to our own created capacity. In the "fullness of time," centuries and centuries after he had created man, God began to make preparations for putting his plan into action. By this time, men had more or less completely forgotten their divine Benefactor, but God had not forgotten them. He called Abraham out of the pagan land of Ur of the Chaldees, and made him a believer in the true God. He brought him over to Canaan---promising to give his descendants that country as their ' fatherland. God did so in order to have one people on earth who would know and reverence him, and from whom his divine Son would take his human nature. The incarnation was God's loving way of making man fit and worthy to win the gift of the future life he had planned for him. God took a special interest in the descendants of Abraham whom he made his own Chosen People. Having led them out of the slavery of Egypt he made a covenant or pact with them---through their leader Moses on Mount Sinai. God promised to bring them into the Promised Land of Canaan and establish them there; they on their part, were to keep the commandments he gave them. These commandments regulated their lives, their relationship with God and their neighbor. The basis of these relationships was a proper appreciation of all that God had done for them; this appreciation they would show and prove by their reciprocal love for him. Unfortunately for themselves, the Chosen People did not always keep their part of this covenant of Sinai. Instead of loving God and thanking him for all his gifts to them, they became involved in worldly affairs and turned to the false gods of their pagan neighbors. The result: they were decimated by pagan conquerors and by exile. Notwithstanding their infidelity God was faithful to his promise. A remnant was saved and from that came eventually the human nature which the Son of God took on himself. We may be shocked at the behavior of God's Chosen People who were never really grateful for all he did for them, but how much more blameworthy are we Christians, when we forget to love and reverence him. What he did for Abraham's descendants was but a shadow of what he has done for us. He made them his Chosen People---he has made us his adopted children. He gave them the land of Canaan---he has promised us heaven as our homeland. He gave them Moses to lead them out of the slavery of Egypt---he has given us his divine Son to lead us from the sin and slavery of this world to heaven. Moses, as leader of the stubborn Israelites, led a life of contradiction and troubles---Christ our Leader suffered the death of the cross for us. We do owe so much more than the Chosen People to God; are we trying to repay that immense debt? Do we love God as we should?
SECOND READING: Hebrews 7: 23-28. The priests of the old covenant were many in number, bemuse they were prevented by death from continuing in office; but Christ holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues for ever. Consequently he is able for all time to save those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. For it was fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, blameless, unstained, separated from sinners, exalted above the heavens. He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, he did this once for all when he offered up himself. Indeed, the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect for ever. EXPLANATION: The author of Hebrews continues to show the superiority of Jesus over the high priests of the Old Testament. They were many, he was one. They interceded daily for their own sins and the sins of their people. He interceded once for all for his people and he had no personal sins to atone for. On God's command it was the Mosaic Law that appointed the Old Testament high priests, it was God's oath which came later than the "law" that made Christ our high priest. The Levitical high priests were weak, sinful mortals, our high priest is the sinless, holy, divine Son of God.
many...death: Because they were mortal the term of office as high priest was limited and so of necessity there were many of them.
priesthood permanently: Christ's priesthood did not end in death. In fact, its efficacy really began when he rose from the dead. He is now in the inner sanctuary forever interceding for us.
near to God through him: He is permanently at the throne of God, ready to plead for all who want to approach God. There is no other approach except through him, for he is our sole intermediary.
holy...sinners: In his human nature Christ was the perfect man. He kept even the least of God's commandments and obeyed his every wish.
exalted...heavens: This refers to his ascension and glorification. As man he is next to God the Father in heaven: "sitting at God's right hand."
need...daily: Unlike the high priests who had to take part in and supervise daily sacrifices in the temple of Jerusalem, Christ had no need to do this.
once for all: Christ's one sacrifice on the cross was of infinite value because of his divine nature. Hence it was sufficient for him to offer this sacrifice once for all men and for all time.
law...men: On God's command Moses appointed the office of high priest of the Old Law. Christ is appointed directly by God, and his appointment is confirmed by God's oath: "God has sworn an oath which he never will retract, you are a priest forever of the order of Melchizedek" (Ps. 110: 4; see also last Sunday's second reading). APPLICATION: In today's first reading we saw how privileged we are when compared with the Chosen People of the Old Testament. These six verses from Hebrews, which form our second reading today are given over to the same theme: our high priest, our mediator with God, is incomparably greater and more efficacious than any intermediaries they had, for he is none other than God's own divine Son. But, lest we be tempted to see discrimination or acceptance of persons on the part of God, we must realize that God's plan for man's salvation was put into operation gradually---as he found men's minds fit to receive his revelation. The Israelites, whom God selected to be the recipients of his partial revelation in the Old Testament times, were evidently more worthy of this honor than any of their contemporaries. Yet, they were only a few steps removed from paganism and were ever in danger of reverting to it. However, God dealt with them mercifully and patiently. He quickly forgave their many lapses, and again and again he protected them from their pagan enemies during their twelve hundred years in Canaan. Even when the exile---which their disloyalty brought upon them---should have ended their history as a separate race forever, he brought back a "remnant" to Jerusalem and Judah from whom the promised Messiah took his human nature. His revelation of himself to them, and of his great purpose for man, was partial and limited because they were not yet sufficiently developed in their religious outlook. They were given only a vague idea of life after death. The rewards promised for fidelity to him and to his commandments were temporal, earthly rewards. But running like a golden thread through the tapestry of their history, was the promise and, therefore, the hope of a great blessing to come through them for all mankind. The prophets gradually developed this promise and hope. By the time Christ came---as the fulfillment of that promise first made to Abraham---sharing in this blessing was much more important to the true, loyal chosen ones of God than were temporal rewards or blessings. While thus preparing his Chosen People for the incarnation God was also preparing the pagan nations for the coming of Christ. The following were all preparations for the speedy spread of the gospel when Christ came: Alexander's conquest of the known world toward the end of the 4th century B.C.---with the consequent spread of the Greek language; the rise of the Roman empire which strengthened the unity of its various subjects by sound laws and safe means of travel; the decline in almost all parts of the empire---the then known world---of the belief in the pagan gods. In these and in many other ways, God was patiently and wisely preparing the world for the astounding act of divine love toward mankind which was revealed in the incarnation. We are Christians today because God wanted it so from all eternity. He worked quietly and efficiently down through the ages to make this possible. As regards our knowledge of God and the purpose he has for us, we are much better informed than were the Chosen People and the pagan nations of the past. But they will be judged according to their knowledge; their religious ignorance will excuse many a fault. We, on the other hand, will be expected to make a return to him in proportion to the many talents he has given us. Our excuses at the judgement seat will be very few and very flimsy. Our Judge will be the very Son of God who made himself our high priest, in order to open heaven for us and make our entrance there safe and relatively easy. He is ever present, pleading our case at the throne of mercy. The Christian who turns his back on Christ his advocate during life, will surely find it hard to face him as his judge when he comes to die.
GOSPEL: Mark 12: 28-34. One of the scribes came up to Jesus and asked him, "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 neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these." And the scribe said to him, "You are right, Teacher; you have truly said that he is one, and there is no other but he; and to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength, and to love one's neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices." And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." And after that no one dared to ask him any question. EXPLANATION: At the time of Christ, the Jewish rabbis spent most of their time expounding and examining the Mosaic Law. Very often this resulted more in mental gymnastics than in spiritual or religious uplift. There were various schools of thought among them and often heated discussions. One of the questions frequently debated by the rabbis was: which of the ten commandments was the most important? This is the very question a Scribe---a man well-versed in the law---puts to Jesus in today's gospel reading. From the context it is clear that unlike other tendentious questions put to him by Scribes and Pharisees, this question is put by an honest Scribe who is sincerely anxious to get an honest and true answer.
Jesus answered: Knowing that his questioner was sincere Jesus gave him a frank answer, telling him that the two primary and essential commandments were to love the one true God and to love one's neighbor as one loved oneself.
Hear O Israel: Jesus quoted Deuteronomy 6:4-5 for the first commandment: the love of the one true God; to this he added the second greatest commandment: true love of neighbor, which he quoted from Leviticus 19: 18.
you...Teacher: The Scribe, honest man that he was, accepted and approved of the answer. He had himself come to the same conclusion and recognizing Jesus as a sound, sincere rabbi had come to him for confirmation of his opinion.
that he is one: The Scribe went on to praise Jesus for emphasizing the oneness of the true God who has no equal or no contender for this position.
with...heart: This one and only God is to be loved with all the love of which man is capable.
one's...oneself: In Leviticus this commandment was binding on one Israelite in relation to his brother Israelite. In Christ's mind, of which the Scribe is approving, neighbor meant not only a fellow-Jew but any man, all men. (See Luke 10: 29-37, where the story of the Good Samaritan is given by Christ when, having stressed the primacy of this commandment, he is asked: who is my neighbor?)
much sacrifices: The Scribe emphasizes that without true love of God and neighbor, the external signs of worship offered to God are useless. These services are of value, if they are motivated by a sincere interior love for God, which of its nature includes love of neighbor.
not far...God: The kingdom of God was the messianic kingdom which Christ was setting up on earth and which would have its completion and perfection in heaven. The wisdom shown by this Scribe proved to Jesus that he was very close to becoming a member of his kingdom. All that was wanting was the acceptance of Jesus as the promised Messiah. Did he accept Jesus later? We are not told, but many of the Jewish priests and Scribes did become Christ's followers after his resurrection and the descent of the Holy Spirit.
dared...question: This statement is hardly in its correct context here. Matthew 22: 46 and Luke 20: 40 place this sentence in more suitable contexts. APPLICATION: The personal lesson which comes over loud and clear for every sincere Christian from today's gospel, is that the solid foundation of our Christian religion is love of God and neighbor. As our Lord says: "there is no other commandment greater than these." All the other commandments are expansions of these two and indications of how we are to put these two commandments into daily practice. For example: why am I forbidden to murder my neighbor? Simply because he belongs to God; it was God who gave him his life, and God has commanded me to love and respect him. Taking his life is interfering with God's rights, and disobeying him as well. Likewise, the prohibition of idolatry, refraining from insulting God's name, keeping the Sabbath day holy are the principal ways of indicating how we should love God. One may ask: how can I love God? He is infinitely perfect, he needs nothing from me, what therefore can I do for him? I can understand loving my neighbor---for a neighbor can need help, advice, encouragement and consolation. I can prove my love by giving these to my neighbor, but God has no such needs. It is quite true that true love is not theoretical but pragmatic, it means doing some good for somebody. While the infinite God has no needs that I can supply, he has claims on my service, on my respect, on my gratitude---claims so basic and so great that I must be ready to suffer persecution and even death rather than deny or dishonor him (Mt. 5: 10; Lk. 6: 23). It was God who gave me existence and every gift that I have. It was God, through the incarnation of his own divine Son, who made me his adopted child and heir to heaven. Everything that I am and have and hope to be, I owe to God's generosity; therefore, he has an unquestionable right to my gratitude, my reverence, my respect---these are the ways in which I can show my love for him. The keeping of God's commandments, the prayers of thanksgiving, praise and petition which daily we offer, the attendance at Mass and other liturgical functions, these are the means God gives us of showing our love, our recognition of total dependence on him and our gratitude for all he has done and is doing for us. God does not need any of these signs of our submission and reverence and respect, but we need them absolutely, for they are the means he has given us of fulfilling his purpose in creating us---to share his eternal glory with him. To love God then, is not an obligation imposed on us by some demanding superior but a privilege granted us so that we can become worthy of the greater gifts he has in store for us. Loving our neighbor---and in the Christian code this means all men no matter what may be their color, race or religion---is, according to our divine Lord, another most effective way of proving to God that we love him. Because of our common humanity we should be inclined to help our fellow-men, our neighbors, but the Christian law spiritualizes this natural inclination, by commanding us to help our neighbor because he is God's child. We are all fellow-children of God, members of the one family. Our heavenly Father loves each one of us and wants our salvation. If we love our common Father we will do all we can to help his other children also to attain salvation. It will earn for us God's favor. If we observe these two commandments we are "fulfilling the whole law and the prophets,"; we are serving God and showing our gratitude to him for all his goodness to us. The Christian who is following Christ in love is already active in the earthly kingdom of God and traveling safely toward God's eternal kingdom of peace and happiness."-b430 " Click to return to our Home page
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