First reading Exodus 22:20-26
If you are harsh with the widow and orphan, my anger will flare against you
The Lord said to Moses, ‘Tell the sons of Israel this:
‘“You must not molest the stranger or oppress him, for you lived as strangers in the land of Egypt. You must not be harsh with the widow, or with the orphan; if you are harsh with them, they will surely cry out to me, and be sure I shall hear their cry; my anger will flare and I shall kill you with the sword, your own wives will be widows, your own children orphans.
‘“If you lend money to any of my people, to any poor man among you, you must not play the usurer with him: you must not demand interest from him.
‘“If you take another’s cloak as a pledge, you must give it back to him before sunset. It is all the covering he has; it is the cloak he wraps his body in; what else would he sleep in? If he cries to me, I will listen, for I am full of pity.”’
Responsorial Psalm 17(18):2-4,47,51
I love you, Lord, my strength.
I love you, Lord, my strength,
my rock, my fortress, my saviour.
My God is the rock where I take refuge;
my shield, my mighty help, my stronghold.
The Lord is worthy of all praise,
when I call I am saved from my foes.
Long life to the Lord, my rock!
Praised be the God who saves me,
He has given great victories to his king
and shown his love for his anointed.
Second reading 1 Thessalonians 1:5-10
You broke with idolatry and became servants of God; you are now waiting for his Son
You observed the sort of life we lived when we were with you, which was for your instruction, and you were led to become imitators of us, and of the Lord; and it was with the joy of the Holy Spirit that you took to the gospel, in spite of the great opposition all round you. This has made you the great example to all believers in Macedonia and Achaia since it was from you that the word of the Lord started to spread – and not only throughout Macedonia and Achaia, for the news of your faith in God has spread everywhere. We do not need to tell other people about it: other people tell us how we started the work among you, how you broke with idolatry when you were converted to God and became servants of the real, living God; and how you are now waiting for Jesus, his Son, whom he raised from the dead, to come from heaven to save us from the retribution which is coming.
Gospel Matthew 22:34-40
The commandments of love
When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees they got together and, to disconcert him, one of them put a question, ‘Master, which is the greatest commandment of the Law?’ Jesus said, ‘You must 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 resembles it: You must love your neighbour as yourself. On these two commandments hang the whole Law, and the Prophets also.’
The Commandment of Love
In today’s Gospel, a Pharisee asks Jesus, “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” He does not ask to learn, but to test Jesus. The Pharisees prided themselves on knowing the law and its many regulations. Jesus answers simply: “Love God and love your neighbour as you love yourself.” These two commandments are inseparable. We cannot truly say that we love God if we refuse to love the people God places in our lives, even those we find difficult to love.
The world often sees love as a feeling or emotion. But the love Jesus teaches is more than a warm feeling; it is a faithful commitment. We love God even when we do not understand His ways or feel His presence. We love others even through misunderstandings, struggles, and difficult moments. We express this love through our care for our parents, spouse, children, friends and those in need. Jesus also calls us to pray for and seek the good of those who hurt us. Today, let us ask God for the grace to love Him wholeheartedly and to love others with patience, mercy, and faithfulness.
Reflective question:
How can I show God’s love to someone I find difficult to love?
Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year A” by Sr Maria Jose FMVD
