Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time - Cycle B
November 4, 2012
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Opening Prayer
First Reading: Deuteronomy 6:2-6
Psalm: 18:2-4,47,51
Second Reading: Hebrews 7:23-28
Gospel Reading: Mark 12:28b-34
- Last week we heard about blind Bartimaeus in Jericho (Mark 10:45-52). We now fast-forward two chapters later. Jesus is now in Jerusalem and in the midst of his opponents, the scribes, Pharisees, and Saducees; it is after his triumphal entry (on Palm Sunday, Mark 11:1-10) and before his Passion (Holy Thursday, Mark 14:12ff).
- The scribes were the scholars and intellectuals of Judaism. Their scholarship was the knowledge of the Jewish Law, which they regarded as the sum of wisdom and the only true learning. Their position in the Jewish community was a respected position of leadership.
- Jesus was a threat to their influence which is why most New Testament references show them hostile to him. This Sunday’s story is unique in that it portrays a friendly, rather than a controversial, discussion between Jesus and a scribe.
- This particular scribe has been impressed with Jesus’ earlier reply to the Saducees, another religious group that opposed Jesus (Mark 12:18-27). This scribe wants to learn more.
QUESTIONS:
- In the 2nd Reading, we are told that Christ, our High Priest, is sinless and perfectly holy.What does it mean to be “holy”? In what respect can you call all priests holy? In what does their holiness consist?
- In the Gospel Reading, why are these two commandments (verses 29-31) the greatest? How do the Ten Commandments relate to these two?
- Why do you think Jesus emphasized loving God with our heart, soul, and mind? How is loving God related to loving other people?
- What do you think Jesus meant by telling the scribe that he was “not far” from the kingdom of God? Was Jesus commenting on his understanding of theology, or his faith?
- In the three possibilities of love relationships (with God, neighbors, and self), where are you the strongest? The weakest?
- What does it mean to love your neighbor as you do yourself? How do you love yourself? How does that apply to the way you love your neighbor?
Catechism of the Catholic Church: §§ 202, 228, 2196, 2816-2821
‘Whoever does not love does not know God.’ Why? Because ‘God is Love.’ (1 John 4:7) What more can be said, my Brothers? If one did not find one word in praise of love through this epistle, nor the least word throughout all the other pages of Scripture, and we heard only this one word from the voice of the Spirit of God: Because 'God is Love,' we should seek for nothing more. -St. Augustine