Scripture readings, reflection

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By Fr. Andrew Kelly
31ST SUNDAY ORDINAL TIME – NOV. 4
The believing community spends a lot of time, effort and resources making sure both its worship and its worship space is always the best of quality.  This is as it should be.
But does all this worship activity lead to Sunday’s Gospel (Mark 12:28-34)?
Does the community ever spend time prayerfully reflecting how it specifically lives Jesus’ command to love God and neighbor with equal intensity?
If love of God and neighbor is not a concrete priority, is the community willing to make the needed changes so Jesus’ priority becomes the only priority?
Maybe every Sunday the community should make the Scribe’s quote from Sunday’s Gospel part of its creed. This way the community will never forget what its priorities really should be.
“…God is one, and besides God there is no other;” and “to love God with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength,” and “to love one’s neighbor as oneself” — this is much more important than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.
If this is how the worshiping community is living, Jesus has one thing only to say: “You are not far from the kingdom of God.”
(Father Andrew Kelly is a retired priest of the Diocese of Davenport.)

Scripture readings for for Nov. 4-11
Sunday
Dt 6:2-6
Heb 7:23-28
Mk 12:28b-34
Monday
Phil 2:1-4
Lk 14:12-14
Tuesday
Phil 2:5-11
Lk 14:15-24
Wednesday
Phil 2:12-18
Lk 14:25-33
Thursday
Phil 3:3-8a
Lk 15:1-10
Friday
Ez 47:1-2, 8-9, 12
1 Cor 3:9c-11, 16-17
Jn 2:13-22
Saturday
Phil 4:10-19
Lk 16:9-15
Sunday
1 Kgs 17:10-16
Heb 9:24-28
Mk 12:38-44
or Mk 12:41-44


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