November 4, 2018 Sunday of the 31st Week in Ordinary Time-B

Deuteronomy 6:2-6

Psalm 18

Hebrews 7:23-28

Mark 12:28-34

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart…”  Mark 12:30

Lord, did you ever get tired of being tested and challenged by the religious authorities and lawyers of your time?  You were so patient and gentle with this man who was looking to judge how faithful you were to Jewish law.  After you looked into his heart you praised him by telling him “you are not far from the kingdom of God.”  Oh Lord, I would give anything to hear you speak those words to me!  Sometimes I get caught up with religious obligations, rules and rituals.   I can make judgements about doctrine and question authority.  But you give me the rock-bottom line of my relationship with you and that is to love you with all my heart, soul, mind and strength and to love my neighbor as myself.  That’s IT!  If I do that everything else will fall into place.   I need not be fearful or anxious about the state of my soul if I give myself to you so completely.  I can’t help but love my neighbor whom I see as your image, likeness and beloved child.   Dear Jesus, move my heart to greater levels of love of you and neighbor.  Amen.