NINTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

Thursday

Year II

Readings

First Reading
2 Tm 2:8–15

Responsorial Psalm
Ps 25:4–5ab, 8–9, 10 and 14

Gospel
Mk 12:28–34

Meditation on Today’s Readings

Taken from the Vatican II Sunday and Weekday Missal
Written by Celia Sirois

Since the written Torah has 613 commandments, Jewish teachers were routinely asked, “Which is the first?” Jesus’ answer combines two commandments: the first concerns loving God (from Deuteronomy 6), and the second concerns loving others (from Leviticus 19). This exchange with a scribe provides a pleasant interlude in a phase of Jesus’ ministry that is riddled with controversy. Since his arrival in Jerusalem, Jesus has been challenged by the chief priests and leading men of the city, by a coalition of Pharisees and Herodians, and by some Sadducees. In contrast, this conversation is open and honest. The scribe’s study of Torah has made him ready to receive the reign of God.

The same may be said of Tobiah and Paul. Like his father, Tobiah has taken to heart the words of Torah. His prayer makes that clear. So accompanied by an angel, he too is not far from God’s reign. Finally Paul, the zealous Jew formed in the way of Torah and never far from God’s reign, preaches even in chains. He is completely convinced of the faithfulness of God, who remains ever faithful, “for he cannot deny himself.”

The copyright for the Sunday Missal Introductions is:
Copyright (c) 2001, Daughters of St. Paul
The copyright for the Weekday Missal Introduction is:
Copyright (c) 2002, Daughters of St. Paul