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Reflection on Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

October 25, 2026

Exodus 22:20-26, Psalm 18, 1 Thessalonians 1:5c-10, Matthew 22:34-40 

With all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind

 

As we enter this beautiful season of giving, we show gratitude for the gifts showered on us by Our Lord, especially His truth and love. In this Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus used the challenge of the Pharisees to provide us with the beautiful teaching of the Two Great Commandments – to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind, and to love our neighbor as ourselves.

 

What had the Jewish Pharisees done after they heard that Jesus had swiftly silenced their religious rivals, the Sadducees?  Did they go home and wildly celebrate the truth of Jesus’ answer – that the gift of marriage is for earthly life, but that it is surpassed in heavenly life?  If their motives were completely pure, something like that might have happened.

 

On the other hand, St. Matthew’s Gospel tells us that the Pharisees decided to test Jesus by questioning him.  We are grateful for their question. Their question about the greatest commandment gave us the poignant and pithy teaching of Jesus that love is the cornerstone of the commandments.  Doesn’t this ring true in our hearts?

 

“You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul,

and with all your mind…. You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 

 

As the cooler weather shifts our thoughts to home and hearth, let us intensify our response to this commandment.  Let us get rid of the lesser loves of becoming too focused on our own wants and needs. They tether our thoughts and emotions.  They fritter away the energy that we ought only to spend on pouring ourselves out for God and the good of others. We have only one life in which to give the most love we can.

 

Here are a few examples of striving for holiness in everyday life.  When we are busy or preoccupied, we can allow people to harvest the precious gifts of our time and attention.   Take time to thoughtfully answer someone.  Offer a smile when your heart feels heavy.  Write and mail a “thank you” or “get well” note.

 

We were made for nothing less than the best – eternal union with the Most Blessed Trinity.  When our words and deeds reflect our hope for heaven, we inspire others to join us on the journey!  Love is the reason and love is the driving force.

 

The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.

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“With Mary, our lives continually proclaim the greatness of the Lord and the joy experienced in rendering service to Him.”

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