Thirty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time
October 31, 2021
“Moses spoke to the people saying, ‘Fear the Lord, your God, and keep throughout the days of your lives, all the 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... 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.’”
We may be able to recite the ten commandments, and remember that the first three reflect our relationship with God and the other seven, how we deal with our neighbor. We may recall that Jesus summarized them in just two, love of God and neighbor. We can even use one word, ‘respect’, to reflect the spirit of them all.
The commandments are the condition God offers if we are truly allowing Him to be our God and we, if we wish, to be His people. That is His promise and today we ask how good and sincere is our response.
The three signs of loving God with heart, soul and strength require that we do something to merit His promised reward. Prayer is our pacemaker, good works are our strengthening coach, and our desire to love is giving ourselves over to the Lord, body and soul.
Remember a sign seen outside a church: the commandments are not merely a suggestion, but are laws of God’s faithful.
by Rev. William J. Reilly