30th Friday in Ordinary Time
Rom 9:1-5, Ps 147:12-15, 19-20, Lk 14:1-6
Think about a time in your life when you wished you could do something for somebody you loved. Yet, you knew if you did, it would not help them because they needed to do it themselves. Or, another time where you had to choose between two good things, knowing that not doing the other would not be good for the person involved. Those feelings we have are hard to imagine. Thankfully it is rare, if at all, that we would be put in that situation. It hurts, but that is what happens when we love someone so much we are willing to do anything for them, even if it causes harm to ourselves. Here is where St. Paul is at. He wants so much for the Roman people to love Jesus that he is willing to separate himself from Jesus if it makes them believe.
How would we respond? Would we respond with love, or would we turn our back and walk away? Well, the answer to the questions is, we would not walk away and would love that person regardless of the situation. Did you know Jesus mentions love 13 times in the Bible? While that may not seem like a lot, depending on your Bible, love is mentioned around 300 times in the Old Testament and around 200 times in the New Testament. Paul drives that message home in his letter to the Romans. As a Christian, and converted Jew, he laments for his fellow Jews that just cannot see the Love that exudes from Jesus. So much so that if it means he must give everything up so they, too, would see the Messiah, he would gladly do so.
Jesus challenges those around Him, especially the Pharisees who are so much defined by “law” to answer how they would react to certain situations. These situations were definitely banned by Old Testament law, but Jesus poses it in a way that brings love into the equation. Could they, would they, heal on the Sabbath out of Love? Would they, could they save a prized animal on the Sabbath? The Pharisees knew they would, but chose not to answer for fear of incriminating themselves. It was a trick question, and it was all about love.
It is worth noting and reminding that the Ten Commandments, the Old Testament law, is still as important today as it was then. On them, every moral act is based. But it is also important to remember Jesus introduced a new law, the laws based on love. They are called the Beatitudes. It is how Jesus wants us to live our lives. Follow the Old Testament laws, the Ten Commandments, but live our lives following the Beatitudes, the laws of love.
Paul is a great example of how to live our lives with Love. We can only hope that we can emulate love like Paul so as to be willing to separate ourselves for others. So the next time you are in a situation where a choice has to be made, make sure whatever decision you choose, you are doing it in love. Love will always be the right choice.
Saint James Catholic Church 