Fr. Roger J. Landry
Visitation Convent of the Sisters of Life, Manhattan
Thursday of the Ninth Week in Ordinary Time, Year II
June 7, 2018
2 Tim 2:8-15, Ps 25, Mk 12:28-34
The recorder malfunctioned today and so the homily was not recorded. The following ideas were attempted during the homily:
- Today we pray in the Psalm, “Teach me your ways, O Lord!,” and Jesus and Paul both respond to that plea. The Gospel involves an honest question among the interrogation of Mk 12, in anticipation of the Passion. It focuses on what are the most important things we need to do, and Jesus replies, loving God with all we have and loving our neighbor with all we have. The lawyer who asked the question and responded with joy was “not far from the kingdom of God,” because knowing the truth and doing the truth are two different things. To enter the kingdom he needed to learn how to follow Jesus in loving God the Father and loving neighbor.
- Throughout the Second Letter of St. Paul to St. Timothy, he’s giving his young spiritual son a pep talk about how to stir his faith into a flame and not to be ashamed of the Gospel but courageously to live and proclaim it. Today he makes the faith simple, describing what he calls “my Gospel,” the Gospel for which he was willing to suffer so much. That Gospel is: “Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David.” The great principle of the desert fathers was anamnesis, literally unforgetting, that Christ is with us, the Christ who gives us himself to love God with all we are and love our neighbor as he has loved us first. St. Paul urges Timothy to remember two things about Jesus: that he’s risen from the dead and that he’s a descendant of David, in other words, divine and human. He summons him to enter into Christ, to persevere with him, to acknowledge him, and to turn to his mercy when one has failed. He died and rose with him in baptism; the one who perseveres with him will be saved; he will acknowledge before the Father those who acknowledge him before others; and he is always the great Amen, the great Yes.
- The way we “remember” Jesus Christ best is here at Mass. This is his living “memorial,” his zikkaron, his anamnesis, in which he comes live into our life. He comes to teach us his ways not just by his words but by his example, calling us to follow him, through the Cross to eternal glory.
The readings for today’s Mass were:
Reading 1 2 TM 2:8-15
Beloved:
Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David:
such is my Gospel, for which I am suffering,
even to the point of chains, like a criminal.
But the word of God is not chained.
Therefore, I bear with everything for the sake of those who are chosen,
so that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus,
together with eternal glory.
This saying is trustworthy:If we have died with him
we shall also live with him;
if we persevere
we shall also reign with him.
But if we deny him
he will deny us.
If we are unfaithful
he remains faithful,
for he cannot deny himself.Remind people of these things
and charge them before God to stop disputing about words.
This serves no useful purpose since it harms those who listen.
Be eager to present yourself as acceptable to God,
a workman who causes no disgrace,
imparting the word of truth without deviation.
Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, a descendant of David:
such is my Gospel, for which I am suffering,
even to the point of chains, like a criminal.
But the word of God is not chained.
Therefore, I bear with everything for the sake of those who are chosen,
so that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus,
together with eternal glory.
This saying is trustworthy:If we have died with him
we shall also live with him;
if we persevere
we shall also reign with him.
But if we deny him
he will deny us.
If we are unfaithful
he remains faithful,
for he cannot deny himself.Remind people of these things
and charge them before God to stop disputing about words.
This serves no useful purpose since it harms those who listen.
Be eager to present yourself as acceptable to God,
a workman who causes no disgrace,
imparting the word of truth without deviation.
Responsorial Psalm PS 25:4-5AB, 8-9, 10 AND 14
R. (4) Teach me your ways, O Lord.
Your ways, O LORD, make known to me;
teach me your paths,
Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my savior.
R. Teach me your ways, O Lord.
Good and upright is the LORD;
thus he shows sinners the way.
He guides the humble to justice,
he teaches the humble his way.
R. Teach me your ways, O Lord.
All the paths of the LORD are kindness and constancy
toward those who keep his covenant and his decrees.
The friendship of the LORD is with those who fear him,
and his covenant, for their instruction.
R. Teach me your ways, O Lord.
Your ways, O LORD, make known to me;
teach me your paths,
Guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my savior.
R. Teach me your ways, O Lord.
Good and upright is the LORD;
thus he shows sinners the way.
He guides the humble to justice,
he teaches the humble his way.
R. Teach me your ways, O Lord.
All the paths of the LORD are kindness and constancy
toward those who keep his covenant and his decrees.
The friendship of the LORD is with those who fear him,
and his covenant, for their instruction.
R. Teach me your ways, O Lord.
Alleluia SEE 2 TM 1:10
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Our Savior Jesus Christ has destroyed death
and brought life to light through the Gospel.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel MK 12:28-34
One of the scribes came to Jesus and asked him,
“Which is the first of all the commandments?”
Jesus replied, “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.
The second is this:
You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
There is no other commandment greater than these.”
The scribe said to him, “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.”
And when Jesus saw that he answered with understanding,
he said to him, “You are not far from the Kingdom of God.”
And no one dared to ask him any more questions.
“Which is the first of all the commandments?”
Jesus replied, “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.
The second is this:
You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
There is no other commandment greater than these.”
The scribe said to him, “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.”
And when Jesus saw that he answered with understanding,
he said to him, “You are not far from the Kingdom of God.”
And no one dared to ask him any more questions.