THIRTIETH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, October 25, 2026
(Exodus 22:20-26; 1 Thessalonians 1:5-10; Matthew 22:34-40)
The young nun was proud of her achievement. Her students had
earned high marks on their exams. When she told the Mother Superior of her
success, the superior didn't seem particularly impressed. The young sister
asked why. The veteran explained that she worked with the most gifted students
in the school. She said that any teacher could succeed with them. To prove her
teaching ability, she would have to produce such results with less intelligent
students. I would like to use this story to reflect on today's Gospel.
When Jesus answers the question about “the greatest
commandment” with “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart…,” he
isn't saying anything particularly insightful. These words come from the famous
Shema in the Book of Deuteronomy. It is one of the most frequently
repeated verses in the Old Testament. In Jesus' time, the Jews recited the
verse twice a day. They engraved it on their doorframes. They placed it in
phylacteries so that it would be before their eyes all day long. Like the young
religious woman teaching the gifted students, calling it the greatest
commandment doesn't represent a great achievement on Jesus' part.
However, in the second part of his answer, Jesus reveals his
brilliance and wisdom. Although "love your neighbor as yourself" is
found in the Book of Leviticus, it isn't given much importance there. Nevertheless,
Jesus treats it as one of the two super-keys upon which all Judeo-Christian
morality hangs. Because he was asked for the one greatest commandment, his
answer implies that it forms a single commandment with love of God. In effect,
Jesus is saying that one cannot love God if one does not love the man or woman
who bears God’s image. The First Letter of John makes almost the same assertion
when it states, “for whoever does not love a brother whom he has seen cannot
love God 5 whom he has not seen” (I John 4:20b).
In his commandment, Jesus uses the Greek word agape
for “love.” Agape conveys the sense of self-sacrifice for the good of
the beloved. It is not simply affection, which is charis in Greek, but
the love that helps and supports the other with actions. It is the love of the
Good Samaritan for the man left for dead. It is the love that moved a woman to
donate one of her kidneys to a diocesan priest in Texas.
We are approaching year’s end. The harvest is over, and
everyone is anticipating the end-of-year festivities. Before we celebrate
Thanksgiving, the Immaculate Conception, and the birth of the Savior, Jesus’
commandments should move us to think of those in need. Whether they are as
close as our neighbor who has been sent to live in a nursing home or as far
away as the starving children in war-torn parts of Africa, we should plan now
how to respond to their suffering. Our support will not only make Christmas
more fulfilling for them but also for us.
