Friday, March 4, 2016

There is no other greater commandment that loving God and thy neighbour


March 4, 2016

Friday of the Third Week of Lent


Reading 1

2Thus says the LORD: Return, O Israel, to the LORD, your God; you have collapsed through your guilt. 3Take with you words, and return to the LORD; Say to him, “Forgive all iniquity, and receive what is good, that we may render as offerings the bullocks from our stalls.

4Assyria will not save us, nor shall we have horses to mount; We shall say no more, ‘Our god,’ to the work of our hands; for in you the orphan finds compassion.”

5I will heal their defection, says the LORD, I will love them freely; for my wrath is turned away from them. 6I will be like the dew for Israel: he shall blossom like the lily; He shall strike root like the Lebanon cedar, 7And put forth his shoots. His splendor shall be like the olive tree and his fragrance like the Lebanon cedar.

8Again they shall dwell in his shade and raise grain; They shall blossom like the vine, and his fame shall be like the wine of Lebanon.

9Ephraim! What more has he to do with idols? I have humbled him, but I will prosper him. “I am like a verdant cypress tree”– Because of me you bear fruit!

10Let him who is wise understand these things; let him who is prudent know them.
Straight are the paths of the LORD, in them the just walk, but sinners stumble in them.[1]

Responsorial Psalm

R. (see 11 and 9a) am the Lord your God: hear My voice.

6cAn unfamiliar speech I hear: 7“I relieved his shoulder of the burden; his hands were freed from the basket. 8aIn distress you called, and I rescued you.”

R. I am the Lord your God: hear My voice.

8b“Unseen, I answered you in thunder; 8cI tested you at the waters of Meribah.
9Hear, my people, and I will admonish you; O Israel, will you not hear me?”

R. I am the Lord your God: hear My voice.

10“There shall be no strange god among you nor shall you worship any alien god.
11aI, the LORD, am your God 11bwho led you forth from the land of Egypt.”

R. I am the Lord your God: hear My voice.

14“If only my people would hear Me, 17and Israel walk in my ways, I would feed them with the best of wheat, and with honey from the rock I would fill them.”

R. I am the Lord your God: hear My voice.

Verse Before The Gospel Matthew 4:17

Repent, says the Lord;
the Kingdom of heaven is at hand.

Gospel

28One of the scribes came to Jesus and asked Him, “Which is the first of all the commandments?”[2] 29Jesus replied, “The first is this: Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone! 30You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul,  with all your mind, and with all your strength.

31The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these.” 32The scribe said to him, “Well said, teacher. You are right in saying, He is One and there is no other than He. 33And 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.”

34And 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.



Notes on Readings:

[1] Hosea 14:10 - A later addition in the style of the wisdom literature.

[2] Mark 12:28-34 - See the ffotnote on Matthew 22:34-40.

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Dear Humanity,

I personally encourage everyone to emulate JESUS' values on LOVE, FAITH, HOPE
and CHARITY, as the humanity has been a failure; which resulted to the more than two (2) years of pandemic and its after-effects on economy, not only here in the Philippines but worldwide.

And the saddest part of it, is that, it affected the POOREST of the POOR to even extremely be more poorer, in exchange of the affluent to be more richer.

Thank you and may GOD bless you and the whole family to have an enjoyed life's journey at home, Church, schools/universities, corporate commitments, public and places of interest.