First reading: Dt. 6:2–6
Moses spoke to the people, saying: “Fear the LORD, your God, and keep, throughout the days of your lives, all his statutes and commandments which I enjoin on you, and thus have long life. Hear then, Israel, and be careful to observe them, that you may grow and prosper the more, in keeping with the promise of the LORD, the God of your fathers, to give you a land flowing with milk and honey.
“Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD alone! Therefore, you shall love the LORD, your God, with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength. Take to heart these words which I enjoin on you today.”
Second reading: Heb. 7:23–28
Brothers and sisters: The levitical priests were many because they were prevented by death from remaining in office, but Jesus, because he remains forever, has a priesthood that does not pass away. Therefore, he is always able to save those who approach God through him, since he lives forever to make intercession for them.
It was fitting that we should have such a high priest: holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, higher than the heavens. He has no need, as did the high priests, to offer sacrifice day after day, first for his own sins and then for those of the people; he did that once for all when he offered himself. For the law appoints men subject to weakness to be high priests, but the word of the oath, which was taken after the law, appoints a son, who has been made perfect forever.
Gospel: Mk. 12:28b–34
One of the scribes came to Jesus and asked him, “Which is the first of all the commandments?” Jesus replied, “The first is this: Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.”
The scribe said to him, “Well said, teacher. You are right in saying, ‘He is One and there is no other than he.’ And ‘to love him with all your heart, with all your understanding, with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself’ is worth more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” And when Jesus saw that he answered with understanding, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.” And no one dared to ask him any more questions.
In other words
by Fr. Dante Salces-Barril, SVD (Rome, Italy)
When asked which was the first of all the commandments Jesus quoted the well-known “Shema Israel” [Hear, O Israel (First Reading)]; but he added a second one: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Lv 19,18). And while both commandments are found in the Old Testament, they are never mentioned in the same breath, like what Jesus does in the Gospel. He makes it appear like these two (or even three as love for self is presupposed in the love for the “other”) are essentially one.
This juxtaposition becomes the foundation of our Christian belief that God is loved through our neighbors because God is present in them, especially in the least of our brethren. I once volunteered in Caritas Rome to serve the “least of my brethren.” I was serving in a restaurant-like institution where people (presumably, the least of my brethren) would come and eat. The place was beautiful, the setting dignified, and definitely better than the karenderias (eateries) I frequented back home! But many times, our “customers” would complain; they would curse and shout—soup is too bland, meat is overcooked, juice is the same. I muttered to myself, “You all should have worked as restaurant ‘quality control’ supervisors!”
Jesus indeed says that he is present in the least of his brothers (and sisters)—but by no means is this automatic. Poverty is not a sign of the presence of the divine in a person; in fact, poverty even has to be eliminated. Instead, Jesus is present in those who do the will of his Father, be they rich or poor. The presence of God in us, by the power of the Holy Spirit received first in Baptism, is a tremendous gift. It makes us part of his Body, the Church, which is a gathering of persons. And as the late, great Fr. Leonardo Estioko, SVD once said in class: “When two or three are gathered… laws, rules, and regulations are needed!” Hence, while the “divine presence” is a gift, it is at the same time an obligation. So, as our “customers” are served at table and eat for free, they have the obligation to show gratitude or at least to behave like decent human beings. Jesus’ exhortation to the servers applies equally to the customers: “Love your neighbor.”
Our celebration today is called eucharistia (thanksgiving) and missa (mission). We thank (eucharistia) God for the gift of his presence in us. But this gift is not to be buried and hidden in the arid soil of individualism; his presence in us makes us part of his Body the Church. And as we participate in this communion of persons, it is our mission (missa) and obligation to follow rules and regulations: love God and love your neighbor as yourself. Nobody is above the Law; one can be the richest of the rich or the poorest of the poor—he/she is bound by the same rule.