Daily Retreat 06/08/06

2006 Jun 8 Thu: Ordinary Weekday

2 Tm 2: 8-15/ Ps 24(25): 4-5ab. 8-9. 10 and 14/ Mk 12: 28-34

From today’s readings: "Be eager to present yourself as acceptable to God, a workman who causes no disgrace, imparting the word of truth without deviation.... All the paths of the LORD are kindness and constancy toward those who keep His covenant and His decrees.... Well said, teacher. You are right in saying, 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 is worth more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices."

Simple and Sublime

The paradox of Christianity is that our faith is, at the same time, sublime and simple. Each Christian can, and should, spend his whole life growing in faith and understanding, but that doesn’t mean one needs a college degree in order to grasp the initial fundamentals of the faith.

The great commandment bids us to love God "with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength." If we are loving God with our whole selves, we will, of course, continue to grow in our faith and understanding every day of our lives - there’s simply no room for complacency.

Likewise, love of neighbor can never be considered in this life a "finished" task, simply because each day, our neighbors present us with new opportunities for the response of Christian love. It’s so simple to summarize Christian commandments under these two heads, and yet it takes a lifetime to fulfill them!