To Love God with All Our Heart, Soul and Strength"

Today's Mass Readings

In the last month or so, we have reflected on the origin and history of the people of Israel beginning with Abraham in the book of Genesis to the development of organized religion in the book Leviticus and Numbers. Today we reach the last book in this five book series – the book of Deuteronomy. The five books (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy) together is called the “Pentateuch.” The book of Deuteronomy (meaning “second law”) is different from the other four books and contains important lessons for us. A few more introductory thoughts on Deuteronomy are necessary before I offer a reflection proper. This book is called the “second law” because the first law was given on Mount Sinai. The book of Deuteronomy is really a farewell address by Moses to a people who were not exemplary in the following of the Law. Although this book is attributed to Moses, it was discovered only after the people had settled in the Promised Land during the reign of King Josiah (640-609 BC), almost 350- 400 years after the Exodus event. It is now thought that the book is really the work of scribes who were concerned about Israel’s wayward life-style. However, they were supported by the good King Josiah who himself wanted to reform Israel as a nation. The scribes based the “second law” on the “original Covenant law.” In this sense the book is still the work of Moses, only now adapted to the changing situation of Israel as a nation with kings, a Temple, prophets and established social structures (a situation very different from when the first law was originally given when Israel was only a wandering nation with no king, temple or social structures).

Today’s readings comes from second section of the book of Deuteronomy (Chapters 4-11), where Moses reviews the Ten commandments. Today’s reading is an extended version of the first commandment. The emphasis is on a genuine, sincere relationship with God based on “love.” Note the emphasis of the author on what genuine love of God would look like. Genuine love of God is when one loves God with “with all your heart,
and with all your soul,
and with all your strength.”

Jesus would later revert back to this version of the first commandment in the gospels. What then is the message of these readings for us today? In the gospel reading, Jesus expresses frustration at the lack of faith of the people of his time. Lack of faith in the gospel the same as the is the lack of love in the first reading. Faith in God and love of God are the two sides of the same coin.

In this context, we can interpret Jesus’ words as “If you love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul and with all your strength…” (Deut 6:4) “nothing will be impossible for you” (Mt 7:20).

Let us conclude this reflection with by slowly and reflectively praying today’s Psalm:

I love you, O LORD, my strength,
O LORD, my rock, my fortress, my deliverer.

My God, my rock of refuge,
my shield, the horn of my salvation, my stronghold!
Praised be the LORD, I exclaim!
And I am safe from my enemies.

The LORD live! And blessed be my Rock!
Extolled be God my savior!
You who gave great victories to your king,
and showed kindness to your anointed,
to David and his posterity forever.