October 31
Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time
Give a Mass Offering
Mass Intention
Sat. 4:00 PM – Lee & John Stach / Carol Blake
Sun. 7:30 AM - John Passonno / Wife
Sun. 10:30 AM - Victor Villani / Nives & Serafino Marzocchio
Sun. 5:00 PM - Roxanne McAloon Compoli / Elaine Lostumbo
Prayer for Spiritual Communion
My Jesus, I believe that you are present in the most Blessed Sacrament. I love You above all things and I desire to receive You into my soul. Since I cannot now receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there, and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen.
Readings
First Reading
Deuteronomy 6:2-6
Moses spoke to the people, saying: "Fear the LORD, your God, and keep, throughout the days of your lives, all his statutes and commandments which I enjoin on you, and thus have long life. Hear then, Israel, and be careful to observe them, that you may grow and prosper the more, in keeping with the promise of the LORD, the God of your fathers, to give you a land flowing with milk and honey.
"Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD alone! Therefore, you shall love the LORD, your God, with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength. Take to heart these words which I enjoin on you today."
Responsorial Psalm
Psalms 18:2-3, 3-4, 47, 51
R. (2) I love you, Lord, my strength.
I love you, O LORD, my strength,
O LORD, my rock, my fortress, my deliverer.
R. I love you, Lord, my strength.
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.
R. I love you, Lord, my strength.
The LORD lives! And blessed be my rock!
Extolled be God my savior.
You who gave great victories to your king
and showed kindness to your anointed.
R. I love you, Lord, my strength.
Second Reading
Hebrews 7:23-28
Brothers and sisters: The levitical priests were many because they were prevented by death from remaining in office, but 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. 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. 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.
Gospel Acclamation
John 14:23
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Whoever loves me will keep my word, says the Lord; and my father will love him and we will come to him.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel
Mark 12:28b-34
One of the scribes came to Jesus and asked him, "Which is the first of all the commandments?" Jesus replied, "The first is this: Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone! 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 is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these." The scribe said to him, "Well said, teacher. You are right in saying, 'He is One and there is no other than he.' 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." 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.
“I love you, Lord, my strength.”
Reflection
Today, in the Book of Deuteronomy, Moses directs the people to “Fear the Lord, your God, and keep, throughout the days of your lives, all his statutes and commandments which I enjoin on you and thus have a long life.”
When Moses says, “Fear the Lord,” he does not mean in a cowering way, but in a lively, faith-filled determination to live as God has taught. So many people are in actual fear of God. This is not what God wants, but instead, what the word fear means in today’s Sacred Scripture is respect. The Scripture calls us to respect the commandments of God. If we live according to His commandments then we will lead a successful and happy life in the eyes of God.
The problem arises when our self-determination contradicts what God teaches. We all experience this at times, and we know this as sin. However, if we choose to respond to God’s commandments in a positive way, we remind ourselves that we truly love God because God loves us! Let us return to the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and truly ask forgiveness for the times our self-determination has led us away from our Creator and into the hands of evil.
May we all respect the Lord our God, and live according to his Word!
Peace,
Fr. John
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