XXX SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Matthew 22:34-40
The Pharisees appeared as a kind of movement which aimed at the rigorous keeping of the Law. Little by little, a great number of rules and regulations were established to be like a protecting fence of the basic law - the ten commandments. With so many rules and regulations, the question arose of knowing which one is the greatest commandment of the Law. And they brought this question to Jesus, trying to embarrass and discredit him. However, Jesus went straight to the point, asserting clearly what is essential. The whole of human life, and thus of morality, moves around two pillars which lean one upon the other: the relationship with God and the relationship with the others who cross our way.
“You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment.”
This is the foundation of everything else. God occupies the centre and everything else must be done in reference to him. The meaning and the goal of human life come from Him. Thus, we should not be surprised that we lose sight of the purpose and meaning of human life when we turn our backs to God. Humanity is going through a crisis of meaning because we have rejected God and we behave as if he is no more there. We have tried to substitute ourselves for God, and without Him, there is no hope left.
The first commandment - that’s the love of God - demands that we recognise God’s presence in the others and that we reach them with the love that we received from God.
According to Jesus, “the whole Law, and the Prophets also” move around these two commandments, in such a way keeping these two we keep the whole law.
The first reading, taken from the book of Exodus, presents the implications of the second commandment. The commandment “You must love your neighbour as yourself” cannot be understood as referring solely to those who live nearby and with whom I interact daily. It demands that we are concerned with the well-being of the stranger, the widow, the orphan and the poor; and we must do whatever we can to bring relief to their plight.
In the end, we will be judged by this commandment. May the Lord find us faithful.
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