Daily Retreat 08/25/06
2006 Aug 25 Fri: Ordinary Weekday/ Louis of France, mm/ Joseph Calasanz, p, rf
Ez 37: 1-14/ Ps 106(107): 2-3. 4-5. 6-7. 8-9/ Mt 22: 34-40
From today’s readings: “ Thus says the Lord GOD: O My people, I will open your graves and have you rise from them, and bring you back to the land of Israel. ... Give thanks to the Lord; His love is everlasting.... Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?”
The Great Commandment
The thousands of years covered in Old Testament history, the life span of Jesus Himself, the teachings of the Apostles after the Lord’s death and resurrection, and the centuries of the Church’s faithful reflections all are elements in the formidable Christian deposit of faith. Sometimes this all can seem overwhelming - how can one assimilate it all?
In His teaching, Jesus was not afraid to be specific and direct, but He never drowned His disciples with too many details that would have made it difficult for them to see His main points Once, He was asked a probing question about “which commandment in the law is the greatest?” His answer, as always, cut to the chase. In addition to the 10 Commandments, Jewish scribes had counted many other divine commands in the Old Testament - a total of 613!
Yet all of them, and the whole point of the entirety of divine revelation, could be summed up in the great commandment to “love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind,” and to “love your neighbor as yourself.” This great commandment becomes the greatest simply by being put into practice!
Ez 37: 1-14/ Ps 106(107): 2-3. 4-5. 6-7. 8-9/ Mt 22: 34-40
From today’s readings: “ Thus says the Lord GOD: O My people, I will open your graves and have you rise from them, and bring you back to the land of Israel. ... Give thanks to the Lord; His love is everlasting.... Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?”
The Great Commandment
The thousands of years covered in Old Testament history, the life span of Jesus Himself, the teachings of the Apostles after the Lord’s death and resurrection, and the centuries of the Church’s faithful reflections all are elements in the formidable Christian deposit of faith. Sometimes this all can seem overwhelming - how can one assimilate it all?
In His teaching, Jesus was not afraid to be specific and direct, but He never drowned His disciples with too many details that would have made it difficult for them to see His main points Once, He was asked a probing question about “which commandment in the law is the greatest?” His answer, as always, cut to the chase. In addition to the 10 Commandments, Jewish scribes had counted many other divine commands in the Old Testament - a total of 613!
Yet all of them, and the whole point of the entirety of divine revelation, could be summed up in the great commandment to “love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind,” and to “love your neighbor as yourself.” This great commandment becomes the greatest simply by being put into practice!
posted by FrPitstick | 8/24/2006
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