Sunday Reflections
30th Sunday year A
Love and do what you like
1. ✠ A reading from the holy Gospel according Matthew 22:34-40
When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees they got together and, to disconcert him, one of them put a question, ‘Master, which is the greatest commandment of the Law?’ Jesus said, ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second resembles it: You must love your neighbour as yourself. On these two commandments hang the whole Law, and the Prophets also.’
2. In the Jewish society of Jesus’ time, the question of knowing the greatest of the commandment was a necessary one because the scribes in their effort to interpret the ten commandments were able to make six hundred and thirteen additional commandments. The result was that the people were often confused on which law to give priority over the other.
3. Today’s first reading (Ex 22:20-26) and the Gospel make it clear that God is pleased when he is respected and when human beings are treated with love and respect. These are the essential things which one can easily know and accomplish without bothering to learn the multiple laws that do not translate to love of God and neighbour.
4. Through Christ, God has shown that the ten commandments are actually two commandments: love of God and love of others. Remove love from any law, it ceases to point towards God and his kingdom.
5. One who is motivated by love in his actions no longer needs to ask if what he/she is doing is good or evil. He lives beyond good and bad. He lives in love. That is why St. Augustine says:”love and do whatever you will.” The principle is sound because he who loves cannot do what goes against God because God is love.
6. Do not be asking: “is it a sin to do this or that” rather ask: ” is this an act of love for God and neighbour or is it not?” Make this your rule of discernment to know when you are moving towards God and his kingdom and when you are out of the way.
