Archive for October 28, 2017

Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time 

Posted: October 28, 2017 by CatholicJules in Sunday Reflections
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Love Commanded: Scott Hahn Reflects on the Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time 

Readings:
Exodus 22:20-26
Psalm 18:2-4, 47, 51
1 Thessalonians 1:5-10
Matthew 22:34-40

Jesus came not to abolish the Old Testament law but to fulfill it (see Matthew 5:17)

And in today’s Gospel, He reveals that love—of God and of neighbor—is the fulfillment of the whole of the law (see Romans 13:8-10).

Devout Israelites were to keep all 613 commands found in the Bible’s first five books. Jesus says today that all these, and all the teachings of the prophets, can be summarized by two verses of this law (see Deuteronomy 6:5; Leviticus 19:18).

He seems to summarize the two stone tablets on which God was said to have engraved the Ten Commandments (see Exodus 32:15-16). The first tablet set out three laws concerning the love of God—such as the command not to take His name in vain; the second contained seven commands regarding love of neighbor, such as those against stealing and adultery.

Love is the hinge that binds the two tablets of the law. For we can’t love God, whom we can’t see, if we don’t love our neighbor, whom we can (see 1 John 4:20-22).

But this love we are called to is far more than simple affection or warm sentiment. We must give ourselves totally to God – loving with our whole beings, with all our heart, soul and mind. Our love for our neighbor must express itself in concrete actions, such as those set out in today’s First Reading.

We love because He first loved us (see 1 John 4:19). As we sing in today’s Psalm, He has been our deliverer, our strength when we could not possibly defend ourselves against the enemies of sin and death.

We love in thanksgiving for our salvation. And in this become imitators of Jesus, as Paul tells us in today’s Epistle—laying down our lives daily in ways large and small, seen and unseen, our lives offered as a continual sacrifice of praise (see John 15:12-13; Hebrews 13:15).

On Today’s Gospel 

Posted: October 28, 2017 by CatholicJules in Personal Thoughts & Reflections
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Are you passionate about your faith? In wanting to know more, learn more and eager to share what you have learnt? Do You seek the Lord often praying to know His Will for you?

These are signs that you are growing in discipleship. While all of us have different gifts and charisms we are One Body united in our Lord Jesus Christ. Knowing this and applying our gifts and charisms towards building the kingdom of God by our sacrifices we further our journey towards sanctity and Holiness.

St Simon and St Jude pray for us…. Amen

First reading
Ephesians 2:19-22

You are no longer aliens or foreign visitors: you are citizens like all the saints, and part of God’s household. You are part of a building that has the apostles and prophets for its foundations, and Christ Jesus himself for its main cornerstone. As every structure is aligned on him, all grow into one holy temple in the Lord; and you too, in him, are being built into a house where God lives, in the Spirit.

Gospel
Luke 6:12-16

Jesus went out into the hills to pray; and he spent the whole night in prayer to God. When day came he summoned his disciples and picked out twelve of them; he called them ‘apostles’: Simon whom he called Peter, and his brother Andrew; James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James son of Alphaeus, Simon called the Zealot, Judas son of James, and Judas Iscariot who became a traitor.