Friends, today we are celebrating the thirty-first Sunday of ordinary time b. brothers and sisters, our mother church continues to lead us to Christ, the eternal high priest of the new covenant. The basis of this new covenant is the sacrifice of love. Christ offered this sacrifice, which gave perfect glory to the Father. So, as His followers, Jesus calls and expects us to provide this same sacrifice. Friends, the readings of this Sunday remind us of the importance of love, loyalty, and faithfulness. Let us strive to live out this love in our lives, building up the Kingdom of God through our faithful actions. Lord, help us to love You with all our heart, soul, and strength. Guide us to be faithful in our actions and relationships. May we reflect Your steadfast love in our daily lives.
Friends, in the book of Deuteronomy, Moses speaks to the people about loving God with all their heart, soul, and strength. This love is shown through loyalty and obedience to God’s commandments. Though the people often fail in their faithfulness, God remains steadfast and never abandons them. Brothers and sisters, God’s call to love Him is a call to be loyal and faithful. Despite people’s shortcomings, God continually reaches out to them. This shows us that God’s love is constant and unwavering, even when we fall short. Our response to God’s love should be one of loyalty and faithfulness. We must strive to keep His commandments and put Him first in our lives. This type of love is not just an emotion but an ongoing commitment to follow God.
Friends, let us remember what love is for us. For instance, how do the children show their parents that they love them? Beautiful words, smiles, promises? These are not enough. If the parents have decided to build a new house or clear a piece of land for a garden, the children show their love by helping them clear the area or make the bricks. Actions which often involve some sacrifices to help the parents, mean much more than words. Brothers and sisters, love for God is not proved by words, grand ceremonies, or singing beautiful songs, but by accepting the plan that He has revealed to us in Jesus. The only thing he wants is salvation and happiness for all people. To love him is to devote yourself “with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength” to fulfill his plan; only a person who does this can truly say that he or she loves God.
Friends, the second reading of today is a continuation of the discourse on the eternal priesthood of Christ. The letter to the Hebrews contrasts the priesthood of Christ with that of the Old Testament. In obedience to his Father’s will, Christ offered the greatest sacrifice of love with his own life. It was necessary for Him to die, to save us. Jesus’ eternal priesthood shows us His deep and faithful love for us. He continually intercedes for us, always remaining our advocate before God. This unchanging and steadfast role of Jesus reassures us of His constant care and support. Our response to Jesus’ eternal priesthood should be one of gratitude and faithfulness. We are called to trust in His ongoing work in our lives and to follow His example of sacrificial love. By acknowledging His eternal priesthood, we deepen our understanding of His love and commitment to us.
Friends, in today’s gospel, Christ summarized the Ten Commandments into two. With the same words used by Moses, Jesus repeated the same call in our first reading; “Hear, O Israel! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul.” Then, he amplified it by adding; “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Very important! Brothers and sisters, without denying the first commandment’s priority, I think that the second is more challenging to fulfill humanly speaking. If we can obey the second, then we can, and have indeed observed the first. This is because God lives in our neighbor. We cannot hate or harm our neighbor for any reason and still claim we love God or his commandments.
Friends, due to the natural human instinct of self-preservation, pride, and selfishness (the “ego” or “I”), it seems practically impossible to love neither God nor our neighbor. However, Christ is not asking us to do what He could not do. He overcame all these enemies of love. Any Christian who overcomes these enemies will love sincerely. The good news is that Christ knows it is possible. If it were not so, He would not have commanded us to love. Brothers and sisters, to love God and our neighbor as ourselves is a “debt,” we owe and must pay (Rom 13: 8). It is the sacrifice of the new covenant, which the new people of God, and indeed, every child of God must offer.
Friends, this may not necessarily mean dying on the cross as Christ did, but it is possible to demonstrate it through small, but concrete gestures like a sincere smile, good words, and charity. It may not only mean doing something extraordinary but also doing something simple. Brothers and sisters, Jesus invites us into a deeper relationship with Him and with others. We are called to reflect this love in our daily lives, striving to be faithful in all that we do. This is the love that builds up the community and reflects the heart of Jesus’ teachings. Friends, like Christ, our eternal high priest, when we offer this sacrifice and debt of love that gives perfect glory to God, we can sing with the psalmist; “I love you, Lord, my strength.” The Lord be with you …. May the almighty God bless you, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Have a Blessed Sunday and a Fruitful New Month of November to You
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By: Fr. Ben Chola mccj
Aka Omuntu Wa Bantu
