This Sermon is prepared by
Rev.Fr.Peter Jayakanthan sss
Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament
Corpus Christi Catholic Church,
Houston, Texas, US
30th Sunday of Ordinary Time-The law of love…….Being for and with others!!Ex22:20-26; IThes1:5c-10; Mt22:34-40Dear Sisters, Brothers and Children, our community celebration of Eucharist is strength for us, It nourishes our bond, It gives witness to others, and transforms our lives. The Eucharistic experiences of the early Christians were filled with enthusiasm. Are we aware of this powerful expression and fruit in the breaking of bread in our community? Let us remind ourselves to re-live the experience of the first Christian community at every Eucharist, so we will enjoy the same overflowing joy of the Eternal Banquet; then there will be the practice of true religion with vivid signs of equality, sharing and self-giving. Let us lift-up all the missionaries around the world who are struggling and threatened for the sake of Christ, that through our thoughtful prayers we may reach out to them.“See how those Christians love one another; there is something divine in them!” This was the comment of the non-Christians about the early Christian community. Because they broke bread together at the Eucharistic altar, and shared with one another around the table, so that no one was lacking in anything. They were following the law of love. What is this law of love? To be for and with others, is the law of love. It was this law of love that led the early Christians to persecutions and martyrdom. Aristitudes, a non-Christian of second century AD, wrote to Emperor Hadrian, “Christians love one another”…‘if they see a stranger, they take the person home as though real brother or sister.’ How shall we possess and witness to this law of love? Among the 12 Apostles, only John died at his old age. He was at Ephesus in Asia Minor, now known as Turkey. As an old man, his body and mind had become very weak, his speech and memory became limited. However, the early Christians had a reverence and respect for him as the only surviving Apostle who lived with Jesus, and was specially loved by Jesus. On the Lord’s Day, they used to carry him to the community gathering; while sitting in his midst, all will remain in silent to listen to him. He spoke only these words repeatedly, “my children love one another,” “my children love one another… love one another.” Even though they already knew what John was going to say, people would listen to him as he repeated over and over again, until he grew tired from speaking. ”My children love one another.” No one yawned; they rapt with attention as John preached his five-word sermon over and over: "My children love one another." It is clear that this is the core of Jesus’ teaching and Christianity. This law of love is rooted in the Lord’s guiding words to His people Israel: ‘You were aliens once, don’t forget how Yahweh fought for you and journeyed with you.’ In the first reading Israel is reminded about their past life. For centuries they were an oppressed people, they were poor, they were enslaved, and they were a forgotten people for 400 years. Moses addressed his people in the words of Yahweh, saying, ‘Do not forget the life of your ancestors. You were once foreigners and strangers in Egypt. The Lord was compassionate towards you and walked with you. You don’t suppress others now.’ Compassion means com-passio- “to suffer with and to deal with or to be one with.” The Lord says, ‘I will attend to your cry by being and suffering with you, to liberate you. The Bible is a story of compassion and mercy, the story of the Lord who participated with suffering humanity in order to offer fullness of life. The first Christian community and the Apostle John incorporated the understanding of ‘neighbor’ from Jesus’ teaching and life. Yes, Jesus gave a new and true understanding of neighbor that was totally different from the explanation of the Hebrew Scriptures. Ordinarily the term ‘neighbor’ described a fellow Israelite; as brothers and sisters of the same covenant , the Israelites were called to love one another as they loved themselves. Concerning those outside the bonds of the covenant there was only an obligation no compassion? Neighbor meant someone who was kin to them within their community and family, with same blood. It was easy and convenient to reach out to these. It was more of an obligation; it was not a law of love. So they considered others as aliens, strangers, outcasts and voice-less by extending the Ten Commandments into 613 precepts, for their convenience. Widows, children, sick were considered voiceless, as were pagans and outcasts. The Pharisees expressed their love for God by fulfilling rituals, but refused to love the disadvantaged in reality. Jesus says, ‘your neighbor is not the one who is next you in your community, rather it is the one who is in need around you and next to you.’ Jesus integrates what the Pharisees and teachers of law denied to do. That is love of God and Love of neighbor. One cannot exist without the other. This is law of love: being for others and being with others. One cannot build a fence between God and neighbor as did the Pharisees; rather faith and religion should build and connect God and those in needs. How is my expression of love to God? Who is my neighbor? Do I reach out and practice the law of love with humility, passion and concrete action? How might I practice the law of love every day? “Man of Eight Beatitudes” is the title given to Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati, a modern saint, by St. John Paul II. Frassati died young at the age of 24, succumbing to Polio virus. His wealthy non-Catholic and unreligious parents expected many affluent people to attend their son’s funeral. However, they were totally shocked to see the streets filled with the simple and the poor, who experienced the love of Pier Giorgio. Someone commented that he spent his nights on his knees with God; he spent the day with the suffering humanity compassionately. Feeling for and with--is love. Blessed Mother Teresa used to be present those special meetings with wealthy persons, after the meeting when they surround and request her business card, she will a card which will not have any address, phone no, no fax and no e-mail contact but it carried only the prayer given below: “The fruit of silence is prayer. The Fruit of prayer is faith. The fruit of faith is love. The fruit of love is service. The fruit of service is peace.” The law of love be our life-Amen. 
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