Deuteronomy 6:2-7, Psalm 18:2-5, 47, 51, Hebrews 7:23-28, Mark 12:28B-34

DAILY HOLY MASS READINGS

Whoever loves me will keep my word, says the Lord;
and my father will love him and we will come to him. Jn 14:23
Deuteronomy 6:2-7, Psalm 18:2-5, 47, 51, 
Hebrews 7:23-28, Mark 12:28B-34


Deuteronomy 6:2-7

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

Moses, at the end of his life, says goodbye to the people of God whom he has led faithfully for 40 years in the wilderness before bringing them to the threshold of the Promised Land. He will not enter but he implores the people who will finally have a place of their own, to remember that they belong to God, chosen by Him from all the nations to be His Own forever. They, in turn, must never forget that they owe allegiance to God alone and Him alone are they to love with every fiber of their being. 

You will also emphasize the importance of keeping this first commandment and to this, You will add a second. In keeping these two, You assure us, we will receive eternal life.

Psalm 18:2-5, 47, 51

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

To know You is to love You, to truly know You is to love You passionately, placing You above all other loves. You are worthy of love because You are God, You are our Lord, our strength, our fortress, our deliverer. You set us free from the snares of the Enemy and have laid claim to us forever. 

Death has been defeated and we need not fear that hour when it arrives for You have destroyed its sting. We are saved, Beloved. We have a glorious Savior who is the King of Kings, the Anointed of the Father who takes away the sins of the world.
Hebrews 7:23-28

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

How well the writer of this letter to the Hebrews explains and contrasts the Levitical priesthood with Your eternal priesthood. Every human person is subject to death. Our lifespan is determined by God alone and at the end of it comes judgment. But You, because You are one like us but sinless because You destroyed death on the Cross, You alone have been given the dignity of Eternal High Priest. You alone can offer to the Father the only Sacrifice acceptable to Him that has the power to atone for the sins of the whole world. You alone, Beloved of the Father and my Beloved, can make intercession for sinners and You do night and day before the Throne of God. 

We are covered in the Blood of the Lamb that was offered in Perfect Sacrifice in expiation of our sins. You have been raised far above thrones, principalities, kingdoms, and to You is given all authority, rule, power. Yours is an Eternal Priesthood and the Sacrifice once offered on the Cross is the only one that is holy, perfect, eternal, and wholly pleasing to God. Its fragrance rises up to the highest heavens making atonement for the sins of the whole world until the end of time.   

Mark 12:28B-34

My Love, Beloved of my soul,

Today the Evangelist tells us about a Scribe whom You commended greatly. We have heard of other Scribes who did not fare so well when they came to question You because of their motives for doing so.

To this Scribes question, "Which is the first of all the commandments?" 

You quoted Moses saying, 

 "The first is this:
Hear, O Israel!
The Lord our God is Lord alone!
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,
with all your soul,
with all your mind,
and with all your strength."

But to this, You added a second:

"You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
There is no other commandment greater than these." 

The Scribe praised You for summing up perfect the entire Decalogue in these two commandments.

"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."

You then said something to him which I am certain he treasured for as long as he lived, "You are not far from the kingdom of God." 

Help me every day my Lord to so live my life that You will assure me that I too am not far from Your Kingdom. Amen.