Sunday, November 3, 2024

Suppose a friend, interested in becoming Catholic, asked you, “What do you have to do to be a really good Catholic?” What would you answer?  Go to Mass on Sundays?  Pray every day?  Or what?
 
The way I was brought up, I would have given those answers, along with “don’t eat meat on Friday.”  Those are good answers for an “Old Testament” mentality, because they emphasize my relationship with God, as Moses presents in our first reading: “…you should love the Lord your God…”
 
In our Gospel reading, Jesus quotes Moses and reinforces that love of God is essential.  But He adds another commandment and puts it on the same level as the first: “…love your neighbor as yourself.”  These two become the one Great Commandment.
 
So, what is the answer to our question?  To be a really good Catholic you must show your love of God by your love of others.  There is no way around it.  Often Jesus called out those who followed all the rules but were not helping others or, even worse, were taking advantage of others, especially those who were most vulnerable.  For example, the two religious leaders in the Good Samaritan parable were following the rules, but they ignored the man in need. Another example: Jesus accused the religious leaders of laying burdens on people and not lifting a finger to help them. 
 
It can be easier to “follow the rules” by going to Mass and obeying the 10 commandments than to go out of our way to show love of others.  But when you look at some of the people angrily spouting hate in the name of Christianity, do you really think that is how Jesus would act?
 
I invite us to reflect this week on how we are allowing our religious observances to help us grow in selfless love and service to others.  We will never be perfect, but we have to be growing.  God bless.
 
Church sign: Show your love of God by what you say and do to others.