(Optional Memorial for Marcellinus and Peter, Martyrs)
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| “Christ Enthroned” (detail) by Bartolomeo Vivarini, 1450 |
Commentary:
Reading 1: 2 Timothy 2:8-15
Commentary on 2 Tm 2:8-15
St. Paul begins this section with the slogan “But the word of God in not chained.” It is believed by scholars that what follows is a quote from a hymn in common use at the time (“If we have died with him…”). The reference in the hymn is to the death to sin in Baptism from which the faithful shall gain the promise of eternal life (“we shall also reign with him”). The hymn quote concludes with assurance that Jesus is always faithful and constant even if those who believe in him fail.
The passage concludes with St. Paul telling his student to faithfully proclaim these truths without dispute. It is the principles that must be observed not the specific language used.
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Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 25:4-5ab, 8-9, 10 and 14
R. (4) Teach me your ways, O Lord.
Commentary on Ps 25:4-5ab, 8-9, 10 and 14
Psalm 25 is an individual lament. The sinful psalmist prays that “Your ways” (God's ways) be made known. The request directs us to repentance and ultimately justice. The theme of guidance is continued in the psalm. This selection gives a clear sense of the Lord’s path, announced by angelic messengers, prophets, and the very Law of Moses. It is the culmination and completion of God’s covenants. These verses are echoed later by Malachi (Malachi 3:1-4) and John the Baptist (Luke 3:1 ff), also announcing the Lord's path.
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Gospel: Mark 12:28-34
Commentary on Mk 12:28-34
In the continuing dialogue with the Sadducees from the Gospel of St. Mark we find the questioner is impressed with the way Jesus handled the previous challenge by his colleagues (found in the previous verses). The Lord answers his question about the law with the Great Commandment, first with the opening of the Shema, the great Jewish Prayer and then he follows that statement with the commandment to love your neighbor as yourself. When the scholar clearly understands what Jesus is saying, the Lord tells him he is not far from the Kingdom of God. (see also the commentary on Matthew 22:34ff)
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Homily:
If someone came up to us and told us they did not want to read the whole Bible to figure out what Christians believed, but wanted just a few short passages, we could not recommend much better selections than those we are given today.
While it is extremely important that we understand the Old Testament because it reveals God’s actions in the world before Christ arrived, Jesus sums up in one short statement the most important teaching of that volume – “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength” which he quotes from Deuteronomy 6:4-5 and then goes further quoting Leviticus 19:18 “You shall love your neighbor as yourself”
If someone came up and asked you, “What did Jesus teach?” this is the first thing, the most important thing we could say. If they went further and asked “And what does that get you?” we could answer with the hymn from St. Paul’s Second Letter to Timothy;
“If we have died with him
we shall also live with him;
if we persevere
we shall also reign with him.
But if we deny him
he will deny us.
If we are unfaithful
he remains faithful,
for he cannot deny himself.”
we shall also live with him;
if we persevere
we shall also reign with him.
But if we deny him
he will deny us.
If we are unfaithful
he remains faithful,
for he cannot deny himself.”
Encapsulated in this short quote from an ancient hymn is our belief that through our Baptism we are adopted into the life of the spirit of God, and our adoption leads to salvation. But even if we are unfaithful, fail to love him, fail to love others, he still loves us because he is love as God is love.
It’s all nicely tied up for us today. The difficulty of course is living the commandment, and our prayer today is that we have the strength to do so.
Pax
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