God is the overall First (HOMILY FOR THURSDAY OF THE NINTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR II (JUNE 06 2024

God is the overall First (HOMILY FOR THURSDAY OF THE NINTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR II (JUNE 06 2024)

2Tim.2:8-15; Ps.25; Mark 12:28b-34

Beloved in Christ,

In the annals of history, the 'firsts' have always been celebrated: the inaugural driver, the pioneering governor, the founding president, the eldest in a community, the initial missionaries, the first priest, the premier university, the senior prefect, the chief of staff. These trailblazers, even after being succeeded, remain etched in our collective memory as milestones.

This reverence for the 'first' is mirrored in our interactions within communities, where we naturally seek out the leader or the head. In today's Gospel, a Scribe, seeking a deeper understanding of Jesus' teachings, inquires about the foremost commandment. The implication is clear: align with the principal commandment, and all others will fall into place.

Jesus' response is unequivocal: the greatest commandment is the love of God. This love transcends mere emotion or thought; it demands the totality of our being—our heart, soul, mind, and strength. To love God is to dedicate our entirety to Him. Recognizing this 'first' commandment, we must consider how we engage with it, for association with the 'first' garners significant attention.

St. Paul, in the first reading, addresses how we can align ourselves with this paramount commandment. To embody the love of God, we must be prepared to embrace all things, including suffering for the Gospel. Without a willingness to sacrifice, we cannot claim affinity with this 'first'. Yet, the path of suffering and persecution is not one that typically draws the world's gaze. The commandments of God are designed to foster a relationship between humanity and the Divine, and it is this divine attention that is paramount. The admiration of the world and that of God are not pursuits that can be chased concurrently.

St. Paul emphasizes that to garner God's attention, we must be willing to die and endure with Christ so that we may also live and reign with Him. This death is not solely physical but encompasses the trials of deprivation and scorn from the unrighteous. The Gospel acclamation reassures us that such suffering is transient, for our Savior Jesus Christ has vanquished death.

In practicing the Christian faith, one may appear out of step with the world, perceived as peculiar or foolish. Yet, remember this: God is the ultimate 'first', and to be identified with Him is to receive the highest form of recognition. Let nothing earthly that cannot assure us of heaven hold sway over us.

Amen.

God bless you all