Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Ex 22: 20-26, 1 Th 1: 5-10, Mt 22:34-40
Jesus was asked to name the greatest commandments, and responded by naming two, both found in the Old Testament. Jesus brought them together and made them of equal importance. Hence, we must not separate them. However, in practice we often do.
In the time of the desert monks there was an abbot by the name of Moses who had a great reputation for holiness. Easter was approaching, so the monks met to see what they should do to prepare for it. They decided to fast the entire length of Holy Week. Having come to the decision, each monk went off to his cell, there to fast and pray.
However, about the middle of the week, two wandering monks came to visit the cell of Abbot Moses. Seeing that they were starving, he cooked a little vegetable stew for them. To make them feel at ease he took a little of it himself.
Meanwhile the other monks had seen the smoke rising from their abbot’s cell. It could mean only one thing-he had lit a fire to cook some food. In other words, he had broken the solemn fast. They were shocked, and in the eyes of many of them, he fell from his pinnacle of sanctity. In a body they went over to confront him.
Seeing judgement in their eyes, he asked, ‘What crime have I committed that makes you look at me like this?’
‘You have broken the solemn fast,’ they answered.
‘So, I have,’ replied. ‘I have broken the commandment of men, but in sharing my food with these brothers of ours, I have kept the commandment of God that we should love one another.’
On hearing this, the monks grew silent, and went away humbled but wiser.
There is a terrible fruitless about the lives of those who claim to love God, but in reality, give up themselves from all obligations to love other people. Such people have at best got only half of the Gospel.
Love of God means that we worship him only, not our families, jobs, possessions; loving our neighbors means that we are patient, kind, and ‘bear all things’. (1 Cor 13: 4,7). To understand this, we must first ask God to teach us what his love is, to teach us what these injunctions mean in our lives. Only if our love is rooted in the love of God will it bear fruit for the salvation of others. We love God when we choose his will and obey it. The power comes from God-the decision is ours. Let us open ourselves and ask him to teach us. Then we will be able to love our neighbor as God loves freely, generously, and without reservation.
Peace and All good!
Fr. Valery Burusu
Parochial Administrator