In the Gospel for the Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time B, Jesus teaches the Greatest Commandment. “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! he 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’ ” (Mark 12: 28-31). Jesus connects love of God with love of neighbor. Christians strive to love our neighbor as God loves us. God wants only what is good for us. We love our neighbor by wanting only what is good for them: food, clothing, shelter, employment, health care, and other human needs. How do you love your neighbor in need?
In the Gospel for the Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time B, Jesus heals the blind Bartimaeus. “So they called the blind man, saying to him, ‘Take courage; get up, Jesus is calling you.’ He threw aside his cloak, sprang up, and came to Jesus. Jesus said to him in reply, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ The blind man replied to him, ‘Master, I want to see.’ Jesus told him, ‘Go your way; your faith has saved you.’ Immediately he received his sight and followed him on the way” (Mark 10: 49-52). Jesus healed his physical blindness. Jesus also healed him spiritually. Bartimaeus sees Jesus as the fulfillment of God’s promises. He has faith and trust in Jesus. He drops everything (his cloak) to follow Jesus. What do you need to see Jesus more clearly? Trust more in him?
In the Gospel for the Twenty-eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time B, Jesus invites the rich young man to follow him. “Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said to him, ‘You are lacking in one thing. Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.’ At that statement his face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions” (Mark 10: 21-22). Jesus invites us to follow him wholeheartedly. Like the rich young man, we cling to our worldly securities: money, status, power, prestige, routines, and more. Jesus wants us to love with an undivided heart. What is holding you back from loving God? Others?
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