Readings for Nov. 2-3, Thirty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time
By Fr. Jack Treloar, SJ | For On Mission
The Gospel reading this week gives us Mark’s version of the two great commandments. In this version, the scribe says, “He is one and there is no other than he. And to love him with all your heart, with all your understanding, with all your strength and to love your neighbor as yourself.” The scribe points out that there is only one God who deserves all our understanding and strength and that we must love our neighbor as ourselves. What he does is to link the two commandments into one grand scheme of salvation.
The author of the Letter of James understood this connection very early in the life of the church.
“So also faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead. Indeed someone may say, ‘You have faith and I have works.’ Demonstrate your faith to me without works, and I will demonstrate my faith to you from my works.” (Jas 2:17-18) The complementarity of faith and works seems so obvious that we can question why anyone would think otherwise.
Theologians in past centuries, however, have tried to separate these commandments some to the extent that there is little relationship between the two.
Let’s look at two examples.
John Smith is ardent in his concern for the poor. He works regularly in a soup kitchen for the homeless. He votes for candidates who express willingness to change legal structures that will benefit those in need. John, however, is non-religious and finds his humanitarian work has no relationship to a god. In a word, John is a good person. What is lacking here?
Sue Jones is a truly religious person. She attends Mass regularly. She tries to follow all of the church laws, such as fasting. She votes for candidates who have the same value system as herself. She does not actively pursue social issues. Sue Jones also is a good person. What is lacking here?
Clearly each one is living out one of the two commandments. In each case the person has lost the sense of completeness for their spiritual life.
John loses sight of a motive greater than his current life. The love of God would enrich his life by giving him a motive that extends beyond this present life. Sue has also lost sight of something greater than observance of rules and regulations. Religion has become for her a pretty individual matter.
Jesus in our Gospel reading ties both love of God and love of neighbor together in order that people can have a completely human life.
St. Ignatius of Loyola, in his “Spiritual Exercises,” states that love ought to manifest itself in deeds rather than words. Each person must love both God and neighbor.
A completely human life will always have room for both God and neighbor. Love of God leads to love of neighbor. Love of neighbor leads to love of God. The two great commandments are inseparable.
Fr. Treloar, an assistant director at Jesuit Retreat House in Oshkosh, has served as a professor, lecturer, author and academic administrator.
The readings for Sunday, Nov. 3, can be found at Thirty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time | USCCB.