October 26, 2008
Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
“The whole of the law and the prophets depend on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:34-40
Pope Benedict XVI tells the great story of the man who went to Rabbi Shamai and asked if he could recite all of the law and the prophets of Israel while standing on one foot. Rabbi Shamai said it was impossible. So the man went to Rabbi Hillel and asked him the same question. Rabbi Hillel lifted one foot and said, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Then he put his foot down. Both Hillel and Jesus quote Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18 to their questioners. Both Hillel and Jesus knew that their questioners knew the law and the prophets, but that they were looking for a way out, a way around the law, a loophole. But there is none. In fact, Jesus ups the ante. He commands us to love our enemies. And just before he goes out to be brutally tortured and crucified, he says, “Love one another as I have loved you.” When we see Jesus face to face, what will we have to say to Him about how well we have done?