Reflection for the 31st Sunday in the Ordinary Time by the Council Moderator, Br. Karlo Cruz

In today’s readings, we encounter a prayer dear to the Jewish people, known as the Shema, where Moses prays with the Israelites:

“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.”

The Shema was a daily prayer for the ancient Israelites, and it is still recited by Jews today. It proclaims the oneness of God and calls for a wholehearted love and devotion to Him.

Moses continually reminded the people of Israel—and through them, us—to “take to heart these words,” urging them to faithfully live out the commandments throughout their lives. Yet, we know that following God’s commandments can feel challenging. It can be hard to follow even one commandment, let alone all ten. But if we embrace the Shema prayer in our hearts, obedience to God’s law becomes less of a burden and more of a loving response.

As the liturgical year draws to a close, the readings repeatedly emphasize the eternal priesthood of Jesus, the Holy One who is “obedient unto death on the cross” and whose priesthood is unchanging—holy, innocent, and undefiled. In the second reading, Jesus is held up as the perfect model for us in following God. He intercedes for us eternally, able to save all who approach God through Him.

Jesus, a devout Jew, also prayed the Shema. In today’s Gospel, He summarizes the entire law into two commandments: to love God with our whole being, as the Shema commands, and to love our neighbor as ourselves. These are the two greatest commandments.

Jesus shows us that love is the ultimate way to fulfill God’s law. Love requires sacrifice—setting aside our own will to follow God’s will is an act of love. Putting aside our own desires to serve and care for our neighbor is also an act of love.

Jesus calls us to prioritize love above all. This is the true heart of God’s law. When we love God, it becomes easier to love our neighbors and to follow His commandments joyfully and unconditionally.