“The LORD lives! Blessed be my rock! Exalted be God, my savior!” (Psalm 18:47)
Reflections on the readings for the Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time (October 31, 2021): DT 6:2-6; PS 18:2-3,3-4,47,51; HEB 7:23-28; MK 12:28-34
MISSIO offers “Preaching Mission,” as a homily help, providing connections to mission from the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days.
We look to Christ to prepare our way to the Father who calls us ever closer to Himself.
Today’s liturgy addresses the meaning of priesthood in the Old Covenant and the New Covenant as described in the reading from Hebrews. In the past, the priests of Israel offered sacrifices daily for their own sins and then for the people. Jesus, however, made the ultimate and perfect sacrifice of Himself once for all time and eternity. Moreover, He is the Son of God. “Jesus, because He remains forever, has a priesthood that does not pass away. Therefore, He is always able to save those who approach God through Him, since He lives forever to make intercession for them. It was fitting that we should have such a high priest: holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, higher than the heavens … a Son made perfect forever” (Hebrews 7:24-26,28).
We look to Christ to prepare our way to the Father who calls us ever closer to Himself. Christ is our model of all that is good, right and just. The other Scripture readings today concentrate on the essence of the Law – the Commandments – and, again, reveal what they meant under the Old Covenant and, now, under the New Covenant. In the first reading Moses, tells the people of Israel to obey God’s commands; it is easy for us to think first about the Ten Commandments. However, Moses actually reminds his people, the people of God, to love the Almighty with heart and soul and strength. This is what Jesus elaborates on in the Gospel. Christ draws a clear picture of what His Father asks of us. Because Christ Himself is love, given in sacrifice for our sake, we are called to strive to conform our own lives to His. By serving our Father and Creator, letting the Holy Spirit guide us through grace, and following our Savior, we embrace the self-offering of our High Priest, Christ our King.
