Friday of the Third Week
In today’s first reading from Hosea, we hear the Lord exhorting the people of Israel to “return to the Lord, your God” and abandon their false gods. The Lord commits to loving them despite their defections and promises that he will rescue them and allow them to prosper.
The Lord continues to address them in the Responsorial Psalm by repeating, “I am the Lord your God: hear my voice” after the verses, each recounting the various ways he has assisted them along their exodus out of Egypt. He encourages them to listen to and follow the way he has provided them.
In the Gospel reading from Mark, we read how a scribe comes to Jesus and asks him, “Which is the first of all the commandments?” Jesus responds, “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 question we must answer is, do we believe, and more importantly, do we follow these commandments in our lives? How do we keep God centered in our daily life and love Him, and our neighbors as ourselves? How do we continue to love our neighbors when we may have disappointments with them or dislike their actions?
Prayer
Lord, help me to continue to love you with all my heart, soul, mind and strength and my neighbor as myself -- especially when I find it difficult to do so!
St. Patrick, pray for us!
Jerry Flanagan, ’71, Admissions Office
First Reading: Hosea 14:2-10
Psalm 81:6c-11ab, 14, 17
Gospel: Mark 12:28-34
