Reading 1
2 Tm 2:8-15
Beloved:
Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David:
such is my Gospel, for which I am suffering,
even to the point of chains, like a criminal.
But the word of God is not chained.
Therefore, I bear with everything for the sake of those who are chosen,
so that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus,
together with eternal glory.
This saying is trustworthy:
If we have died with him
we shall also live with him;
if we persevere
we shall also reign with him.
But if we deny him
he will deny us.
If we are unfaithful
he remains faithful,
for he cannot deny himself.
Remind people of these things
and charge them before God to stop disputing about words.
This serves no useful purpose since it harms those who listen.
Be eager to present yourself as acceptable to God,
a workman who causes no disgrace,
imparting the word of truth without deviation. Responsorial Psalm
R. (1) Teach me your ways, O Lord.
Your ways, O LORD, make known to me;
teach me your paths,
Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my savior.
R. Teach me your ways, O Lord.
Good and upright is the LORD;
thus he shows sinners the way.
He guides the humble to justice,
he teaches the humble his way.
R. Teach me your ways, O Lord.
All the paths of the LORD are kindness and constancy
toward those who keep his covenant and his decrees.
The friendship of the LORD is with those who fear him,
and his covenant, for their instruction. R. Teach me your ways, O Lord.
Gospel
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. Comment: Fr, Rodolf PUIGDOLLERS i Noblom SchP (La Roca del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain)
There is no commandment greater than these two
Today, in Mark's Gospel, we see how one of the scribes asks Jesus: «Which commandment is the first of all?» (Mk 12:28). The question is somewhat cunning. In the first place, because he is trying to establish some sort of ranking amongst the different commandments; and, secondly, because his question is centered in the Law. This is logical, bearing in mind that the question comes from a master of the Law.The Lord's answer takes to pieces the spirituality of that «master of the Law» And the attitude of the disciple of Jesus with respect to God can be summed up in two points: «You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart» (Mk 12:30) and «You shall love your neighbor as yourself» (Mk 12:31). The religious behavior is defined in his relationship with God and with his neighbor; and the human behavior, in his relationship with the others and with God. St. Augustine says the same with other words: «Love God, and do whatever you please». Love God and love the others, and all the rest will just be a consequence of this plenitude of love.
The teacher of the Law understands it perfectly well. And he adds that to love God with all one’s heart, and one’s neighbor as oneself, «is more important than any burnt offering and sacrifice» (Mk 12:33). God is awaiting our reply, our total deliverance, «with all our heart, with all our understanding and with all our strength» (Mk 12:30), for God means Truth, Goodness, and generous dedication to others. «Offerings and sacrifices» have a meaning only insofar they will be the true expression of this double love. And to think that, at times, we use the “little commandments” and «the offerings and sacrifices» as stumbling-block to criticize or wound others!
Jesus approves the reply of the master of the Law with «You are not far from the kingdom of God» (Mk 12:34). For Jesus, whoever loves his neighbor over everything else is not far from God.
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