Ex 22:20-26
Mt 22:34-40
So soon? How did we get here so soon?
Today is the thirtieth Sunday of Ordinary Time. Only four more Sundays, including the feast of Christ the King, until the beginning of Advent. Alas much of secular society ignores the religious dimension of advent for a secular silliness such as the chocolate advent calendar. As soon as Saturday’s festival of hyperglycemia and cross-dressing is over, the assault of 24/7 Christmas music radio stations, gigantic blow-ups of snowmen, elves, and the fat guy in red, will begin.
The first reading from Exodus comes from chapter 22, two chapters after the ten commandments, were given to Moses. This was a people who were new to freedom.
They had only recently been released from slavery under the Egyptians. They were still adjusting to being on their own. It was a difficult adjustment and not always successful. They were making mistakes and sometimes flexing their muscles by taking advantage of those who were weaker. They seem to have forgotten that they had just been released from oppression themselves.
The first four of the ten commandments deal with one’s relationship with God: they forbid worshipping other gods, prohibit graven images, forbid taking the Lord’s name in vain, and decry violations of the sabbath. The remaining six commandments are interpersonal or communal, proscribing killing, stealing, and adultery among other sins. They define the relationships and behaviors necessary to keep relationships and society
on an even keel. However, the ten commandments define broad categories that need to be fleshed out in greater detail.
Thus the reader is instructed in the first reading not to oppress the alien or take advantage of the widow, orphan, or those who were otherwise vulnerable. Exodus goes on to criticize predatory lending practices. One wonders what it would have to say about bookies or online gambling, both of which fit the definition of predatory. And what would it say about drug dealers, even if they are the aliens? Dealers are beneath contempt, as they entrap the vulnerable in dependence, family strife, and financial ruin, to say nothing of an early death.
If we read chapter 22 of Matthew’s gospel, of which we heard only six of the final verses, we see how the Pharisees and Sadducees, with the occasional help of the Herodians were engaged in an early version of “gotcha,” so as to find a reason to cancel Jesus, in this case through crucifixion.
They were trying with all their might to entrap Jesus in blasphemy, a capital offense. Good thing Jesus didn’t “misgender” any of his questioners. That would have been real ugly.
The inquiry as to which is the greatest commandment was also a set-up. By giving the answer He did, Jesus summarized all of the Torah and the writings of the prophets in very few words. Indeed, many rabbinic commentators have said this reply contains all of scripture with the rest being gloss.
Loving the Lord with all your heart, soul, and mind will inevitably lead to loving one’s neighbor. Given the world in which we are living these are both the greatest and the most necessary
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Lyon is a most beautiful city in France. Spent three months there trying, mostly unsuccessfully to learn how to wrap my tongue around the sounds of French. Slovenian was a lot easier a few years later.
It was a particularly perfect day in July. 
Black and white conversion changes much about a photo
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| Looking up is oftentimes revealing |
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| Liked the contrast of shadow and sunlight |
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