Nov 5 2006

Dt 6:2-6 Moses spoke to the people, saying: "Fear the LORD, your God, and keep, throughout the days of your lives, all his statutes and commandments which I enjoin on you, and thus have long life. Hear then, Israel, and be careful to observe them, that you may grow and prosper the more, in keeping with the promise of the LORD, the God of your fathers, to give you a land flowing with milk and honey. "Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD alone! Therefore, you shall love the LORD, your God, with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength. Take to heart these words which I enjoin on you today."

Ps 18:2-3, 3-4, 47, 51 R. (2) I love you, Lord, my strength.
I love you, O LORD, my strength, O LORD, my rock, my fortress, my deliverer.
R. I love you, Lord, my strength.
My God, my rock of refuge,my shield, the horn of my salvation, my stronghold! Praised be the LORD, I exclaim, and I am safe from my enemies.
R. I love you, Lord, my strength.
The LORD lives! And blessed be my rock! Extolled be God my savior.You who gave great victories to your kingand showed kindness to your anointed.
R. I love you, Lord, my strength.


Heb 7:23-28 Brothers and sisters: The levitical priests were many because they were prevented by death from remaining in office, but Jesus, because he remains forever, has a priesthood that does not pass away. Therefore, he is always able to save those who approach God through him, since he lives forever to make intercession for them. It was fitting that we should have such a high priest: holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, higher than the heavens. He has no need, as did the high priests, to offer sacrifice day after day, first for his own sins and then for those of the people; he did that once for all when he offered himself. For the law appoints men subject to weakness to be high priests, but the word of the oath, which was taken after the law, appoints a son, who has been made perfect forever.

Mk 12:28b-34 One of the scribes came to Jesus and asked him,"Which is the first of all the commandments?" Jesus replied, "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." The scribe said to him, "Well said, teacher. You are right in saying, 'He is One and there is no other than he.' And 'to love him with all your heart, with all your understanding, with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself' is worth more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices." And when Jesus saw that he answered with understanding, he said to him,"You are not far from the kingdom of God." And no one dared to ask him any more questions.

The law of love is the condensed message of the entire Bible in one small paragraph. It is a prescription for living as a Christian. At the end of the passage, its says the scribe did not dare to ask Jesus more questions. The scribe was trying to set a verbal trap for Jesus and must have been astounded and impressed with Jesus' answer to him.

I think that awe and being in awe is a part of acknowledgement of the divine presence. The scribe must have been in awe and surprised to hear from Jesus that he was not far from the kingdom of God.

I believe that the gospel passage is a common bond for all Christian Churchs to share in and celebrate our same faith. There are many times people wish to separate the church and I on the other hand would like to see all Christians embrace our faiths and join together in worship and love. I pray this morning for Christian unity in the world. I pray that as a Christian I may spread the love and peace of Christ in the world.