Greetings on this the Thursday of the Ninth Week in Ordinary Time
Readings: 2 Tm 2:8-15; Ps 25:4-5ab, 8-9, 10 and 14; Mk 12:28-34

Notes

Yesterday I did not post as I was attending the PBC Food Bank grand opening of a new kitchen and dining room for the food insecure. I made a Wordless Wednesday out of it which will publish in two weeks time. Here is the news report. At 1:17 Guillermo and I are walking out of the kitchen toward the dining room for the homeless. We are two old men! I’m the hunched over one.

Summary

In our sacred readings today we learn the great lessons of faith.

Early Saying (x-ref Creedal values)

1. Die to live.
2. Persevere to reign.
3. Remain faithful and do not deny Christ.

Argumentative and Unproductive Talk

1. Wordiness and minor theological disputes are worthless.
2. Topics that are not concerned with salvation useless and unworthy of our time.

Present Yourselves

1. To God without disgrace.
2. As a workman for righteousness.
3. With truthful speech and no add-ons, deviations, conjecture, idle secular inserts.

The Psalmist helps us further

1. All the paths of the LORD are kindness and constancy.
2. Keep his covenant and his decrees.
3. Act with friendship of the LORD in awe.
4. Allow the New Covenant in Jesus to give its instruction.

Gospel says it succinctly

1. God is One.
2. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.
3. You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

Reflection

The sacred Scripture portions today remind us to act rightly toward God and our fellow man. These two commandments are inseparable and the greatest.

• Love with your heart – do right things with love. Love as noun and verb (affection and interest).
• Love with your soul – with the most interior nature of yourself. Go deep!
• Love with your strength – employing all you have of time, talents and treasures.

Personal Reflection

I rely upon the psalmist promise: Good and upright is the LORD; thus he shows sinners the way. He guides the humble to justice, he teaches the humble his way. I stumble through as often as I am deliberate in action and thought. Often the stumbling and bumbling have the best outcomes.

Scripture Readings

Full readings here: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/060624.cfm

First Reading

Stop disputing about words. Be eager to present yourself as acceptable to God, a workman who causes no disgrace, imparting the word of truth without deviation.

Responsorial

Teach me your ways, O Lord.

All the paths of the LORD are kindness and constancy toward those who keep his covenant and his decrees. The friendship of the LORD is with those who fear him, and his covenant, for their instruction.

Gospel Acclamation

Our Savior Jesus Christ has destroyed death and brought life to light through the Gospel.

Gospel

Which is the first of all the commandments?

Jesus replied, “The first is this:

• The first is this: Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.
• The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
• There is no other commandment greater than these.

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry