Reflection for 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time: Oct. 31, 2021

Reflection for 31^st Sunday in Ordinary Time: Oct. 31, 2021

(Deut 6:2-6): When Moses cautions us to fear the Lord, our God, this is not a negative statement. Remember, that we’ve also been told that “to fear the Lord is the first stage of wisdom.” (Prov 9:10). The author explains that obedience to God brings great rewards, both in this life and in eternal life. This short passage contains one of the most critical foundations of our faith; that we must love and serve our God, the only God, whole-heartedly, and with uncompromised devotion. Jesus, Himself, identified this passage as “the greatest and first Commandment”
(Matt 22:35-40). God’s Will is that we love, trust, obey and prosper.
May we unite our wills with God’s and learn to serve and to love more perfectly!

(Psalm 18: “I love You, Lord, my strength.”): This psalm gives great example for loving and serving God, as called for in the first reading. The psalmist first professes heartfelt love for God and acknowledges God as his or her main support, protector and deliverer. It’s pleasing to hear the psalmist’s awareness of our utter dependence upon God for sustenance and survival, itself. The author speaks with a tone of humble gratitude and with sincere love and appreciation for all blessings, graces and gifts from God. This psalm is a great reminder for us that we must never take for granted the many blessings we enjoy, such as food, water, shelter and unprecedented convenience and comfort. These blessings could all be taken away. Do we greet each day with an outlook of gratitude and awareness that all that we have comes from God and not from our own creating?

(Heb 7:23-28): In this holy and ponderous passage, the eternal and all-powerful and Godly priesthood of Jesus is proclaimed; as compared to the time-limited priesthoods of mere men. Human frailty and preponderance to sin is compared to the sinless priesthood of Jesus. Unlike mere humans, Jesus, Who is divine, has no need to sacrifice for His own sins. When Jesus sacrifices, it is the purest sacrifice, as His Sacrifice of Himself is purely out of love and mercy for others. Still, Jesus gifts us by allowing the Church on earth to participate in the mystery of the Cross and its sacramental self-sacrifice. Mortal priests all have to offer repentance and sacrifice for their own sins; as well of those of flocks assigned to them. The human priesthood, a gift of God; while imperfect, is still a divinely-inspired institution. Contrastingly, Jesus is proclaimed for being forever able to redeem and save needy souls, for all time. Pondering God’s unfathomable generosity, we might take time to reflect this week on the wisdom and power and tender love of our Heavenly Father, such that He gave up His only-begotten Son, for our salvation!

(Mark 12:28b-34): This little Gospel passage says it all, in Jesus’ own words. It all boils down to love. That is our purpose and mission, here on Earth… to love and serve God, whole-heartedly. How are we to do this? We are to serve God by loving and serving our fellow humans, as if they were/are our Lord, Himself. That’s not always easy, given that we’re prone to human frailty, as is observed in previous readings from today’s Mass. However, the fact that it’s sometimes difficult is no excuse for not carrying out our mission as best we can. This week, as ever, let’s pray to be filled to overflowing with love. That will make everything else seem easier and more “do-able.”

Love is our hope! 
Deacon Matt