Thirty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time

Title

Foundational Truths

Outline

I grew up in a traditional home and church

It was a world in which our faith came first

It was a church in which communion was central

It was a family which, while flawed, was core

But it was in a world that had enthroned technology and science and upon which the me-focused sexual revolution was about the break

Our readings are the antidote

Our first reading commands Israel to practice and pass on the centrality of God

Notice that it is not just for their good, but for their children and grandchildren - ideas have effects

This faith was not just Sabbath only, but was to control their whole way of life

And it begins with the start of the Ten Words: “you shall love the LORD, your God, with your whole heart, and with your whole being, and with your whole strength.”

There is one focus and one norm to life, and that is God

Our second reading updates this to include Jesus

There is one unchanging high priest

He deals with our past, he is there for us in the present, and he intercedes for our future

This gives us core stability in times of change

Finally our gospels calls us to live around two loves

The first love is total love of God

“Be prepared to do what it takes to get what you want” - and what you want is God.

So, setting aside all other loves, “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 love is the love of neighbor, including enemy, based in the New Testament on the fact that God himself is love.

So we seek not our own good, but the good of the other, for God has already taken care of our good

Sisters, here we have the counter-cultural program that sums up our life

It is stable in that it is based on him who is the same yesterday, today, and forever

It is real, based in reality, not virtual reality

And it will be enough for any generation after us, on the one hand, and for our future, on the other

The task is to reprogram our minds and hearts through examination of conscience, talking back to demonic thoughts, and living what we profess so that it is not just a great classical Christian idea, but the core of our lives lived in radical discipleship in a collapsing culture based on lies.

Readings

Catholic Daily Readings 10-31-2021: Thirty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time

FIRST READING

Deuteronomy 6:2–6

2 so that you, that is, you, your child, and your grandchild, may fear the LORD, your God, by keeping, as long as you live, all his statutes and commandments which I enjoin on you, and thus have long life. 3 Hear then, Israel, and be careful to observe them, that it may go well with you and that you may increase greatly; for the LORD, the God of your ancestors, promised you a land flowing with milk and honey.

4 Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD alone! 5 Therefore, you shall love the LORD, your God, with your whole heart, and with your whole being, and with your whole strength. 6 Take to heart these words which I command you today.

Catholic Daily Readings 10-31-2021: Thirty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time

RESPONSE

Psalm 18:2

2 He said:

I love you, LORD, my strength,

PSALM

Psalm 18:2–4, 47, 51

2 He said:

I love you, LORD, my strength,

3 LORD, my rock, my fortress, my deliverer,

My God, my rock of refuge,

my shield, my saving horn, my stronghold!

4 Praised be the LORD, I exclaim!

I have been delivered from my enemies.

47 The LORD lives! Blessed be my rock!

Exalted be God, my savior!

51 You have given great victories to your king,

and shown mercy to his anointed,

to David and his posterity forever.

Catholic Daily Readings 10-31-2021: Thirty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time

SECOND READING

Hebrews 7:23–28

23 Those priests were many because they were prevented by death from remaining in office, 24 but he, because he remains forever, has a priesthood that does not pass away. 25 Therefore, he is always able to save those who approach God through him, since he lives forever to make intercession for them.

26 It was fitting that we should have such a high priest: holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, higher than the heavens. 27 He has no need, as did the high priests, to offer sacrifice day after day, first for his own sins and then for those of the people; he did that once for all when he offered himself. 28 For the law appoints men subject to weakness to be high priests, but the word of the oath, which was taken after the law, appoints a son, who has been made perfect forever.

Catholic Daily Readings 10-31-2021: Thirty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

John 14:23

23 Jesus answered and said to him, “Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him.

GOSPEL

Mark 12:28b–34

28 One of the scribes, when he came forward and heard them disputing and saw how well he had answered them, asked him, “Which is the first of all the commandments?” 29 Jesus replied, “The first is this: ‘Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone! 30 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” 32 The scribe said to him, “Well said, teacher. You are right in saying, ‘He is One and there is no other than he.’ 33 And ‘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.” 34 And 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

Catholic Daily Readings 10-31-2021: Thirty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2021 | ORDINARY TIME

THIRTY-FIRST SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

YEAR B | ROMAN MISSAL | LECTIONARY

First Reading Deuteronomy 6:2–6

Response Psalm 18:2

Psalm Psalm 18:2–4, 47, 51

Second Reading Hebrews 7:23–28

Gospel Acclamation John 14:23

Gospel Mark 12:28b–34

GREEN