Homily for the 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A
Readings: Exodus 22:20-26; Psalm 18; 1 Thessalonians 1:5c-10; Matthew 22:34-40
We all may fall into the trap of clickbaits, at least sometimes. There are countless people and AI bots focusing on gaining our attention and keeping it for as long as possible, of course to get some profits out of it. Some even use mockery, half-truths, scapegoating, and even lies to do so. So much of it is around us, also in big politics tempting us to follow their tricks.
The Pharisee from today’s Gospel would be a perfect fit for that game. As an evil spin doctor, he wants to discredit Jesus and His teachings, so that people will despise Jesus. Although he brings a legitimate question, as 613 commandments of old Judaism could be overwhelming, he doesn’t look for truth but wants to manipulate people’s opinion.
But Jesus used this opportunity to stress the fundamental truth: love of God and love of neighbour cannot be separated. For this, Jesus starts by quoting to the Pharisee a part of the prayer used many times a day by pious Jews: Shema Israel. A beautiful prayer reminding that the love of God should engage our whole being. And let’s be honest, even we Christians should remind ourselves of this! As life gets busy and temptations more attractive, the love of God, and God’s commandments may easily slip to a second or further place.
To this we could also add, that depending on what kind of image of God we have in our hearts, our love for God could look differently. We may relate to God through fear. Or we may serve God to gain some reward. But Jesus was teaching the filial love for God. To love God as children love their parents. To call God our Father. To love God not for what He gives or can do, but for who He is: a loving Father. And we are His beloved children. Each and every one of us.
Then, even the Shema prayer becomes a reminder that we are being loved first and are called to respond with our love. To love God and to love what God loves. To love the creation, as it is created out of love. And to love each man, even an enemy, as for all the Son of God died on the Cross.
It is much easier to give a set of rules, a list of commandments as a to-do list and lead to a feeling of achievement to be on good terms with God… It is even possible to talk about the need for reverence of God and at the same time despise other human beings, or devastate creation. To which we could quote St John: “If someone says ‘I love God’ but hates his brother, he is a liar”. And also, see how Jesus later even links his own self to the needy people we meet: “Whatever you did to the least one of these you did it to me”. Our love for God should change not only what we do, but how we see and treat other people.
For this reason, when we are asked for help we shouldn’t ignore it; when we see someone in need we should offer some aid. But also, to be concerned about others, by our initiatives to create opportunities where another’s life may be enriched; to contribute to the common good; to create a better and just society. There’s so much to do. Hence the love of God for us and our love for God should compel us to do what we can and are able to do.
Our Lord challenges those who try to build their own image by exploiting others, and reminds all of us to put the love of God first and to love our neighbour at least as well as we love ourselves. But that’s not the whole of His teaching! To His disciples He later commands: love one another as I have loved you. By this He brings the commandment of love to a new dimension, making His self-giving love as a model for us to imitate. A new way to build a better life and a better society.
