Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time
November 3, 2024 — Year B
Readings: Dt 6:2-6 / Ps 18 / Heb 7:23-28 / Mk 12:28b-34
by Rev. Nixon Negparanon, Pastor

Brothers and sisters, our readings today show us a common theme of wholehearted love for God and neighbor. They highlight that true faith is rooted in all-encompassing love. True faith directs both our devotion to God and our relationship with our neighbors.

In the first reading, from Deuteronomy, Moses reminds the Israelites to love God completely. This love isn’t a mere feeling. It is a command to orient our lives toward God. This teaching underlines that our love for God isn’t just an aspect of our life. It is our life. When Jesus calls us to love with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, He is calling us to a love that pervades every part of our being, guiding our thoughts, actions, and interactions with others.

Moses calls Israel to love God “with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.” This love is a foundational command, intended to guide the entire life of the people. It is not a selective or partial love. It is a love that integrates all aspects of one’s life, reminding us that our relationship with God demands every part of who we are.

In the second reading, from the letter to the Hebrews, we see Jesus as the perfect high priest. Unlike the priests of old, who are limited by sin and death, Jesus’ priesthood is eternal. He mediates for us not with offerings of animals but with His own life, showing us the ultimate example of love. In this sacrificial love, we glimpse the fullness of what it means to love God with all we have. Through Christ, we are given not only the command to love, but also the means to love, drawing from His example and grace.

This passage builds on this theme, showing Jesus as eternal high priest, who embodies the perfect love for God and humanity. Through His sacrifice, Jesus displays love in its fullest form, bridging the gap between God and humanity. His example demonstrates that love is willing to sacrifice for the beloved, underscoring the depth and constancy of divine love.

In the gospel, Jesus is approached by a scribe who asked, “Which commandment is the first of all?”  Jesus responds by quoting the Shema of Deuteronomy: “Hear, O Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.” He then adds, “The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Here, Jesus weaves together love for God and love for neighbor, teaching us that the heart of our faith is love.

Most of us create or interpret laws in a complicated and sometimes funny way. Some of these laws are as follows:

• In Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, it is against the law to sleep in a refrigerator.
• In Gary, Indiana, you’re breaking the law if you attend a theater within four hours of eating garlic.
• In Pocatello, Idaho, it is illegal to look unhappy.
• If you snore loud enough to disturb your neighbors, you can spend a night or two in jail in North
• It is illegal for chickens to cross the road in Whitman, Georgia.
• Lastly, it is against the law in Alabama to wear a false mustache to church such that it makes people laugh.

Some of these laws likely originated as humorous exaggerations or myths that have since been debunked or repealed, while others were real but are now outdated or barely enforced.

In our gospel, Jesus simplifies and unites the Ten Commandments by declaring the two greatest commandments: to love God fully and to love one’s neighbor as oneself. Jesus highlights that authentic love for God naturally extends to others. Thus, the theme of wholehearted love is complete when it flows outward, encompassing not just our relationship with God but also our commitment to caring for others.

Reflecting on these words, we find a timeless call to deepen our love for God and for others. Bishop Fulton Sheen once said, “If you do not live what you believe, you will end up believing what you live.” This statement captures the heart of our readings today. When we live in a way that truly reflects love for God and neighbor, our faith becomes not just something we believe but something we live. It transforms us and those around us.

Jesus’ words in the gospel offer us a practical and profound way to live out this command: to love God with our whole being is to bring every aspect of our life in harmony to His will. This means that our thoughts, our words, our actions, and even our ambitions are all shaped by our desire to serve God. And the second commandment, to love our neighbor as ourselves, flows naturally from the first. We cannot claim to love God if we are indifferent to the needs of others.

Brothers and sisters, our readings call us today to begin each day by asking God to open our heart to His love. Before we can love others, we must receive love from God. Take time to pray. Read the scriptures in order for us to encounter God’s love, allowing it to shape your heart and actions. Let our love for Him flow into every aspect of our lives: relationships, work, and even leisure. As Bishop Sheen implied, when we let faith influence our actions, we are actively living what we believe.

In every encounter, let us remind ourselves that each person we meet bears God’s image. This may be especially challenging with difficult relationships, but Jesus calls us to a love that goes beyond convenience and comfort. Look for ways to serve. Listen and care for others as you would want others to care for you.

Let us also integrate love into our actions. Love is more than words. It is shown in what we do. This can be as simple as offering a kind word or lending a helping hand. It can also mean dedicating time to those in need; offering compassion to the suffering; listening to the lonely; or praying for those who are struggling.

The scribe’s response in today’s gospel reminds us that understanding God’s commandments is only part of the journey. Living them is the goal. Jesus commends him, saying, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” For us, too, the kingdom is close whenever we choose to love, whenever we respond with a yes to God’s call, both in our devotion to Him and in our care for our neighbors.

Our readings this Sunday remind us that love is the essence of faith. A love that involves the entirety of one’s heart, mind, and actions, transforming our relationship with God and the way we treat others. As we go forth, may we not only believe in the love of God but live it fully, becoming living witnesses to the greatest commandments, and in doing so, draw closer to God and His kingdom.

May Jesus Christ be praised.