First Reading (Hos 14:2-10)
Reading of the Prophecy of Hosea.
Thus says the Lord God: “Return, Israel, to the Lord your God, for you have fallen into your sin. All of you, find words and return to the Lord; say to him: ‘Deliver us from all evil and accept this good that we offer; the fruit of our lips. Assyria will not save us; we do not want to ride our horses, we will no longer call the products of our hands ‘our Gods’; in you the orphan will find mercy.” I will heal their wickedness and it will be easy for me to love them, my anger has turned away from them. I will be like dew to Israel; he will blossom like a lily and take root like plants in Lebanon. Its branches will spread out; its splendor will be like that of the olive tree, and its perfume like that of Lebanon.
They will again sit in my shadow and cultivate wheat, and they will flourish like the vine, whose fame is equal to that of the wine of Lebanon. What does Ephraim have to do with idols? I am the one who serves him and watches over him. I am like an evergreen cypress: your fruit comes from me. Understand these words, the wise man, reflect on them, the good understander! The ways of the Lord are straight, and the righteous will walk in them, while the wicked stumble and fall there.”
– Word of the Lord.
– Thank God.
Gospel (Mc 12,28b-34)
— PROCLAMATION of the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Mark.
— Glory to you, Lord.
At that time, 28b a scribe approached Jesus and asked: “Which is the first of all the commandments?” Jesus replied: “The first is this: Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is the only Lord. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength! The second commandment is: You shall love your neighbor as yourself! There is no other commandment greater than these.”
The master of the Law said to Jesus: “Very well, Master! In fact, it is as you said: He is the only God and there is no other besides Him. To love Him with all your heart, with all your mind, and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is better than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”
Jesus saw that he had responded intelligently, and said: “You are not far from the Kingdom of God.” And no one else had the courage to ask Jesus questions.
— Word of Salvation.
— Glory to you, Lord.
Reflecting the Word of God
Beloved brothers and sisters in Christ,
When we look at the world around us, it’s easy to get caught up in the concerns of everyday life. Our minds are filled with commitments, responsibilities, and challenges that often consume us. But today, I want to invite you to take a pause and reflect on what truly matters in our lives.
Imagine yourself on a sunny day, walking through a peaceful park. You are surrounded by the beauty of nature, the sound of birds, and the scent of flowers. It’s in this moment of peace and tranquility that we are reminded of the words of the prophet Hosea: “I will heal their waywardness and love them freely, for my anger has turned away from them” (Hosea 14:5).
These words are a powerful reminder of God’s unconditional love for us. Even when we are unfaithful, even when we stray from Him, God is always ready to welcome us back, to heal us, and to love us generously. He calls us to return to Him, to repent, and to seek His mercy.
And it’s in the Gospel of Mark that we find a passage that teaches us the essence of this love and challenges us to live it out in our daily lives. A scribe approaches Jesus and asks him, “Which commandment is the first of all?” (Mark 12:28b). Jesus responds, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength” (Mark 12:30).
These words of Jesus are a powerful synthesis of the entire law and the prophets. He calls us to love God with all that we are, with our whole being. It’s not a superficial or conditional love, but a love that consumes us completely, that transforms us, and leads us to seek God’s will in every area of our lives.
But Jesus doesn’t stop there. He continues and says, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:31). This is the second part of the great commandment, and Jesus places it on equal footing with love for God. He challenges us to love our neighbors as we love ourselves, to treat them with kindness, compassion, and respect.
This is a challenging task, as we often find ourselves in conflict with others, judging them, and seeking our own interests. But Jesus calls us to transcend these divisions, to love even those we find difficult to love. He shows us a path of reconciliation, forgiveness, and unconditional love.
To better understand these lessons, let’s explore some metaphors and stories that illustrate these principles. Imagine a lush, vibrant tree. Its roots are deeply grounded in the soil, providing sustenance and stability. This tree represents God’s love, which sustains us and strengthens us in all circumstances.
Just as the tree depends on its roots to grow and flourish, we also depend on God’s love to live a full and meaningful life. When we neglect this love, we become like dry branches, unable to bear fruit. But when we turn to God, we allow His love to transform us and empower us to love others.
Furthermore, we can learn from the story of the good Samaritan, which Jesus tells in another passage of the Gospel. In this story, a man is robbed and left by the side of the road, wounded and in need. Several religious leaders pass by him, but it’s a Samaritan, a foreigner, who takes pity on him, tends to his wounds, and takes him to a safe place.
This story teaches us that love for our neighbor knows no barriers. No matter who we are, where we come from, or what our differences are, we are called to reach out to those in need. We are called to be like the good Samaritan, to put the needs of others above our own, to be agents of healing and reconciliation in a wounded world.
When we bring these spiritual truths into our everyday lives, they become tangible and applicable. We can start by practicing gratitude, recognizing the blessings we’ve received and thanking God for them. We can seek opportunities to serve others, whether through volunteering in our community or through small acts of kindness in our workplace or families.
We can also seek forgiveness and reconciliation in our broken relationships. Sometimes, we carry resentments that prevent us from truly loving others. But when we choose to forgive, when we choose to let go of our expectations and judgments, we allow God’s love to flow through us.
And how can we do all of this? How can we live according to these spiritual principles? This is where divine grace comes into play. Grace is God’s gift to us, an empowering force that helps us live the life He calls us to live. It’s through grace that we find the strength to love, to forgive, and to serve.
So today, I invite you to open your hearts to God’s grace. Ask Him to fill you with His love, to empower you to love Him and others with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. Ask Him to help you be living witnesses of Christ’s love in a world that so desperately needs it.
Now, before concluding, I’d like to invite you to take a moment to pause and reflect on what has been said here today. Think about areas of your life where you can grow in love for God and neighbor. Consider how you can become more aware of the needs of those around you. Ponder how you can reach out to those in need.
And as you reflect, allow yourself to experience a moment of silence, of communion with God. In the midst of this silence, open your hearts to divine guidance, to the gentle voice of the Holy Spirit leading you toward love and holiness.
My beloved brothers and sisters, may this homily have been an inspiration to you. May the truths of Scripture come alive in your lives, may you be nourished by God’s love and empowered by divine grace. May you become witnesses of Christ’s love in every area of your lives, spreading hope and transformation wherever you go.
May God’s blessing be upon you, today and always. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.