Oct 25, 2020 -30th Sunday in Ordinary Time
(Ex 22:20-26; Thes 1:5c-10; Mt 22:34-40)
In our Gospel, the question Jesus is asked by the scholar in the law—seems not to be aimed at tricking him or leading him into a rhetorical trap. He responds in a way that wouldn’t have surprised a faithful Jew. Jesus’ answer is, likewise, straightforward, yet magisterial. He answers with authority and without indictment, as is the case when he knows a questioner is sincere.
In response, Jesus quotes the Shema, the great prayer from Deuteronomy 6:4, which begins, “Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord.” That alone wouldn’t have surprised his audience. In fact, they would have expected him to say something like that. Then, he says “The greatest commandment is: ‘You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ The second is: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”
Jesus is really describing the attitude of one who has entered into the kingdom of God. It is impossible to separate these two commandments because since human persons are created in the image and likeness of God, you cannot love God and not love other people. In addition, it is impossible to truly love others without the love of God and the grace he offers us.