Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time

Homily on November 3

Ciclye B

First Reading Deuteronomy 6:2-6

Moses teaches the people to love and worship God alone.

Responsorial Psalm 18:2-3,3-4,47,51

A prayer of praise to God our strength

Second Reading Hebrews 7:23-28

Jesus intercedes for us as our eternal high priest.

Gospel Reading Mark 12:28b-34

Jesus is questioned by a scribe about the greatest commandment.

"with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength"

Today’s readings center on love as the heart of our faith. In Deuteronomy, Moses calls Israel to the Shema: to recognize God’s oneness and love Him fully with heart, soul, and strength. The Psalm echoes this trust, inviting us to see God as our refuge, even in hard times. Hebrews assures us of Jesus’ eternal priesthood, as He offered Himself once for all, interceding for us. Finally, in the Gospel, Jesus unites these themes, teaching that love for God and for our neighbor are the greatest commandments. True faith is lived through this wholehearted, active love.

In the First Reading from Deuteronomy (Dt 6:2-6), Moses proclaims the foundational prayer, “Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD alone!” (שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ יְהוָה אֶחָד, Shema Yisrael Adonai Eloheinu Adonai Echad). This declaration, known as the Shema, lies at the heart of Jewish faith, calling the people not only to recognize God’s oneness but also to respond to this truth by loving Him fully— “with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength”.

The Shema highlights two key aspects of faith: to hear and to love. First, hearing (shema) in this context means listening with intent and openness, not merely hearing sounds but allowing God’s words to shape our hearts and guide our lives. Second, the call to love God follows naturally, for when we truly listen to God, we are drawn into a relationship that transforms us and leads to a genuine, active love. Therefore, hearing and loving go hand in hand. To love God fully is to listen deeply to His words and teachings; conversely, to listen attentively is to nurture our love for Him, letting it permeate every part of our being—our heart, soul, and strength. Moses’ words remind us that faith is not just an intellectual belief but a complete devotion that affects our whole lives, inspiring us to live out this love in our actions and choices.

The Responsorial Psalm (Ps 18:2-3, 3-4, 47, 51) mention us that in moments when life feels stable and predictable, it can be easy to say, “Lord, you are my rock of refuge, my fortress, my deliverer”. But when we’re confronted with challenges that shake our foundations, saying these words and truly believing them can feel like a struggle. In those times, our hearts might naturally drift toward worry, anxiety, or even doubt. We question, “Is God really with me in this? Will He be my strength?”

The author of the psalm, however, gives us a glimpse of something deeper. Despite facing battles and dangers, he cries out, “I love you, Lord, my strength.” His words remind us that faith is not rooted in our circumstances, but in God’s unchanging nature. The psalmist’s love for God goes beyond his struggles, showing us that true faith means clinging to God even when we don’t fully understand His plan.

When we center ourselves on God as our rock and strength, our perspective shifts. Instead of focusing on the magnitude of our problems, we turn our gaze toward the One who is greater than all of them. This doesn’t mean the struggles disappear, but we gain peace and strength, knowing that God is actively with us. Faith, then, becomes our anchor, allowing us to say, “Lord, you are my refuge and fortress” with confidence, even in the midst of uncertainty. In this, we’re reminded that our trust is not in the absence of hardship but in God’s faithful presence through it all.

In the Second Reading (Hebrews 7:23-28), the author contrasts the temporary priesthood of the Levites with the eternal priesthood of Jesus. Unlike the Levites, who offered sacrifices daily—including for their own sins—Jesus, holy and without sin, offered himself once for all. His sacrifice doesn’t need to be repeated; it remains sufficient for all time. As our eternal high priest, he intercedes for us, continuously bringing us closer to God. Through Jesus, we are always able to approach God, assured of his unchanging love and salvation.

In Sunday’s Gospel (Mk 12:28b-34), Jesus affirms and deepens the commandments given through Moses in Deuteronomy (6:2-6). Three key points emerge from this teaching:

1. The Commandments and God’s Oneness: When the scribe asks which commandment is first, Jesus emphasizes the traditional Jewish confession: “Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone”. He highlights the importance of acknowledging God as the One and only. He then connects this with the command to “Love your neighbor as yourself,” summarizing all ten commandments into these two essential principles—love for God and love for others.

2. The Whole Self: Heart, Soul, Mind, and Strength: Jesus calls for an all-encompassing love that involves the heart, soul, mind, and strength. This isn’t just a statement but a call to action; loving God requires a whole-hearted commitment that transforms our lives. Loving with our heart, mind, and strength means letting faith shape not only our words but also our actions, impacting our relationship with God, with others, and with creation.

3. Loving Our Neighbor and Ourselves: Jesus links love of neighbor to love of self, suggesting that true love for others is only possible when we have a healthy, respectful love for ourselves. To genuinely care for our neighbor, we must also recognize our own dignity as beloved of God, allowing His love to fill us so that we can share it with others.

Through these teachings, Jesus reminds us that love is the core of faith, urging us to build a deep, authentic relationship with God that radiates outward to others.

In short, this Sunday we are reminded that faith is rooted in love—love for God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and love for our neighbor as ourselves. This love calls us to listen deeply and act with commitment, letting our faith shape our actions, not just our words. Jesus, our eternal high priest, has made it possible to approach God with confidence, showing us that true faith is an active, wholehearted devotion. Let us take this time to review our own capacity to hear and love, examining how well we live out these commandments through our actions of love each day.