9TH THURSDAY HOMILY OF THE ORDINARY TIME — YEAR A
HOMILY THEME: LOVE FOR GOD AND NEIGHBOUR
BY: Fr. Paul Karabari
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.” (Mark 12:30)
In today’s Gospel (Mark 12:28-34), a scribe approaches Jesus with a sincere question: “Which commandment is the first of all?” Unlike many who sought to trap Him, this man genuinely desired to know the heart of God’s law. Jesus responds by summarizing the entire Law and the Prophets in two inseparable commandments: love for God and love for neighbour. These are not merely among the commandments; they are the foundation upon which every other commandment stands. Any religion, spirituality, or morality that neglects either of these pillars is incomplete.
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To love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength means offering Him our entire being without reservation. God does not ask for a portion of our lives; He asks for our whole selves. Our thoughts, desires, ambitions, talents, possessions, and actions should reflect our devotion to Him. Every gift we possess comes from God, and withholding any part of ourselves from Him is a subtle form of rebellion. Genuine love for God is not expressed only through prayers, songs, and religious observances but through total surrender and obedience to His will.
Jesus immediately adds a second commandment: “You shall love your neighbour as yourself.” This reveals a profound truth: love of God and love of neighbour cannot be separated. We cannot claim to love the God we do not see while neglecting the people He created in His image. The true measure of our love for God is often found in the way we treat others. Every act of kindness, forgiveness, compassion, encouragement, and generosity offered to another person becomes an act of love offered to God Himself.
Loving our neighbour, however, is not always easy. Some people disappoint us, hurt us, betray our trust, or fail to appreciate our sacrifices. Yet Christian love is not based on feelings, convenience, or reciprocity. It does not depend on how lovable others are or how they treat us. Rather, it seeks for others the same good that we sincerely desire for ourselves. It is a love rooted not in human emotions but in God’s grace. To love as Christ commands is to rise above resentment, prejudice, and self-interest and choose goodness even when it is difficult.
In our fast-paced and self-centred world, it is easy to ignore the needs of those around us. We may see someone struggling and think, “It is not my responsibility,” or “I have enough problems of my own.” Sometimes we are too busy, too distracted, or too consumed by our own concerns to notice the suffering of others. Yet the Gospel constantly calls us to be present for one another. A listening ear, a helping hand, a word of encouragement, or a simple act of kindness can become a channel of God’s love and healing in someone’s life.
Today, let us examine our hearts. Do we truly love God above all things? Do we love our neighbours not merely in words but in actions? May the Lord teach us to love Him with undivided hearts and to reflect His love in our relationships with others. For where love reigns, God is present, and where God is present, lives are transformed.
May God have mercy on us, heal our world, bless and protect us all through Christ our Lord. Amen. GOD IS STILL ON THE THRONE. Have a blessed and fruitful day. Good morning.
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