31 October 2021 MARK 12:28b-34
Sunday of the 31st Week in Ordinary Time
SUPERIORITY OF LOVE
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: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:30-31)
One day a woman approached a priest and told him that she committed a grave sin violating the third commandment of God which is, “to keep holy the Lord’s Day.” She told him that she missed the previous Sunday Mass since she could not leave her daughter who was badly ill on that day. The priest in reply told her: “Ma’am, you would commit a mortal sin if you leave your ailing daughter and then go to Mass without somebody taking care of her.” In fact, the priest was pointing to the spirit of Lord’s Day observance. The spirit of Lord’s Day observation does not surpass the law of love.
In today’s Gospel, one of the scribes comes up to Jesus and asks Him an honest question that people also often ask: “Which is the first of all the commandments?” Law has two aspects; namely ‘letter’ and ‘spirit’. The Pharisees and Scribes gave utmost importance to letters of law and forgot the spirit of law. The Ten Commandments were given a collection of 613 supplementary prescriptions by the scribes in order to protect the letters of law. Jesus came to fulfill the law in spirit and letter.
Jesus summarizes the whole law and prophets into two aspects. Love of God and Love of neighbor. Firstly, Love of God should be unconditional. It embraces a person’s whole being of heart, soul, mind and strength. Secondly, Love of neighbors should be all inclusive. The one who is worthy to be your neighbor is someone who is in need. All should be included in the circle of your love despite discriminations on the basis of color, caste, creed, language etc.
While the world was labelling the institutionalized church as authoritarian and complex Pope Francis has tried to present a more compassionate and fraternal church. Recently Pope Francis reminded the church that, ‘the whole point of the Church’s existence is all about love and the doors of the church should be opened towards those who seek love and forgiveness.’ Pope has not made any significant institutional changes yet in the catholic church, but he has really tried to present a more compassionate and fraternal church through some evocative symbols like, ‘a pastor who carries the smell of the sheep’, and life style options like living in a hostel with priests, carrying his own bag etc. Amen.