Newsletter — Thirty-First Sunday of the Year B – 3rd November 2024

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“Which is the first of all the commandments?” Mk 12,28
Jesus is questioned by the Jewish authorities. However, the scribe who asks Jesus this question seems to admire Jesus.

The question posed in today’s Gospel requires Jesus to interpret the Law of Moses. The Mosaic Law consists of the Ten Commandments and many additional commandments, numbering into the hundreds. For a devout Jew, adherence to the Mosaic Law is an expression of faithfulness to God’s covenant with Israel. The ranking of these commandments was regularly debated among the teachers of the Law.

Jesus’ response to his questioners proposed an integral connection between these two aspects of the Jewish Law. Love of God finds its expression in our love for our neighbour. Many believe, however, that this connection was heard in a new and fresh way when spoken by Jesus.

The scribe who questions Jesus in today’s Gospel engages in a positive dialogue with Jesus. He agrees with Jesus’ teaching that the commandments to love God and love neighbour stands above the commandment to offer worship and sacrifice in the Temple. With this dialogue, Jesus appears to close the debate with the Jewish authorities. Mark reports that no one dared to question Jesus
further.

Let us pray for all potentials believers. Some people understand the need to love their neighbour, but they do not know God. They are missing half of the connection. Let us pray that they may be drawn to discover God the source of all love, and to love him in return.

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