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Master·evangeli.net

Today's Gospel + short theological explanation

Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)
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Gospel text (Mt 22:34-40): When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, and one of them, a scholar of the law tested him by asking, "Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?" He said to him, "You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments."

The twofold commandment of charity: "His" friend is my friend

EDITORIAL TEAM evangeli.net (based on texts by Benedict XVI) (Città del Vaticano, Vatican)

Today, Jesus Christ —after overriding the Sadducees— He does it now with the Pharisees. His "method" is always the same: He picks the Scriptures. And through "God’s glance" everything is easier: avoiding "casuistry", the Master synthesizes all the Law and the Prophets in the twofold commandment of charity. If God is not a stranger to me but if, instead, I try to identify myself with His will, then it is not difficult to "discover" who is my neighbor.

Indeed, in God and with God I even love the person whom I do not even know. This can only take place on the basis of an intimate encounter with God, an encounter that has become a communion of will. Then I learn to look on this other person not simply with my eyes and with my feelings, but from the perspective of Jesus Christ. His friend is my friend.

—Only if I serve my neighbor can my eyes be opened to what you, O Lord, do for me and to how much You love me.