Greetings on this the Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Readings: Ex 22:20-26; Ps 18:2-3, 3-4, 47, 51; 1 Thes 1:5c-10; Mt 22:34-40
Notes: In times of peace, they sell war. In times of war, people desire peace.
What needs our greatest effort? The greatest commandment.
Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest? You shall love.
War is an idol.
Letter to the Exiles in Babylon.
Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I exiled from Jerusalem to Babylon: Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their fruits. Take wives and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters to husbands, so that they may bear sons and daughters. Increase there; do not decrease. Seek the welfare of the city to which I have exiled you; pray for it to the LORD, for upon its welfare your own depends. For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Do not be deceived by the prophets and diviners who are among you; do not listen to those among you who dream dreams, for they prophesy lies to you in my name; I did not send them—oracle of the LORD. (Jer 29:4-9).
Social Justice Pieces
https://deacongerrypalermo.blog/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/catholic-social-teaching-handout-adults-digital.pdf
https://deacongerrypalermo.blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/a-short-teaching-on-social-justice-civil.pdf
https://deacongerrypalermo.blog/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/a-short-teaching-on-social-justice.pdf
First Reading
Thus says the LORD: “You shall not molest or oppress an alien, for you were once aliens yourselves in the land of Egypt. You shall not wrong any widow or orphan. If ever you wrong them and they cry out to me, I will surely hear their cry. My wrath will flare up, and I will kill you with the sword; then your own wives will be widows, and your children orphans.
Responsorial
I love you, Lord, my strength.
Second Reading
How you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God and to await his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus, who delivers us from the coming wrath.
Gospel Acclamation
Whoever loves me will keep my word, says the Lord, and my Father will love him and we will come to him.
Gospel
“Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?”
He said to him,
"You shall 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 is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments."
Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry