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Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time
Deuteronomy 6:2-6
Psalm 18:2-3, 3-4, 47, 51
Hebrews 7:23-28
Mark 12:28b-34
S
UMMARY
Today˅s readings remind us of the two most important commandments to faithfully and
unconditionally follow in order to be closer to the kingdom of God: Love God and our
neighbor.
R
EFLECTION
The virtue of Love is a universal theme throughout scripture. It is the most powerful hu-
man expression we can feel and give. The two greatest commandments bestowed upon
us by Jesus, are based on love. Think about the last time you truly felt Love. What did
you feel? How where you impacted?
For us, two years ago today, our precious daughter Sofia was born. Upon looking at her
for the very first time, we felt God˅s presence and spirit at that moment. We were filled
with an unconditional, self-sacrificing, active, volitional, and
thoughtful sense of love. We felt
agape
. We had the exact
same feeling when our first son, Patrick, was born. The tears
of joy and happiness poured like a waterfall. We have been
blessed by God, and we love him as written in the Old Testa-
ment:
ˈTherefore, you shall love the LORD, your God,
with all your heart,
and with all your soul,
and with all your strength.ˉ
According to Anthony J. Tombasco, to love with heart, soul,
and strength means the ˈtotal love of God with one˅s deepest
life (soul), all of its rational choices and commitments (heart),
and with one˅s external achievements and possessions
(strength).ˉ A complete response to God˅s love also encom-
passes a social response. Jesus˅ response to his Father˅s
love moved him to offer himself as THE sacrifice ˀ a sacrifice
for all humanity. Jesus gave it all: his heart, soul, and life.
What an unfathomable expression of love!