“FEAR THE LORD, your God!” This is taken from the Old Testament. “Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD alone! Therefore, you shall love the LORD, your God, with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength.
Take to heart these words which I enjoin on you today.” Per Fr. Manoling Francisco, S.J., The Shema Yisrael is like the version of “Our Father!” I first heard it from Msgr. Chris Manongas about the Jewish prayer which is the basis of today's Gospel.In the Second Reading, these words struck me: “The Levitical priests were many because they were prevented by death from remaining in office, but Jesus, because he remains forever, has a priesthood that does not pass away!” This phrase caught my attention about the temporary state of “my office.” For politicians, we, who are elected every 3 years, renew our “employment” depending on voters’ preferences. Things are very unpredictable and the reality of losing is a possibility for me because of dissatisfaction brought about by the Pandemic. I have thought about this and it has added to the stress and discomfort even at midnight! What gives me strength is my oath of office to SERVE the people to the very end of my term as Mayor. So grateful to God and people for this opportunity to serve as Mayor from the Humanitarian Crisis during the 2013 Siege and now to the global pandemic.
My love for God and Zamboanga City has made real mediante a dificuldade. . Este para con migo cosa quiere decir when I proclaim: I Love GOD! I Love ZC! Yet, reading closely, this speaks of Jesus as a “priest forever” who has once and for all made His office permanent by the penultimate sacrifice in the cross to save us. The permanent office of Jesus has no term limit because his magnanimous great love put an end to the temporary.
Buhus el amor que ya basya el Dios! His outpouring love has once and for all put an end to death and the opportunity of a permanent new life with God forever! In the New Testament, Jesus summarizes the Greatest Commandment: Jesus replied “The first is this: Hear, O Israel! The Lord, our God, is Lord alone! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.” And the second is this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” There is no other commandment greater than these.
Love determines our actions. If we love God and our neighbors, we want to do good. Let love dictate our motives and it will make all the difference. I enjoy washing dishes and while I was washing the spoon, fork and plates that needed a second swirl of sponge. I realized if I would be working as a dishwasher and if I do my work with love then the outcome and quality would be excellent because love makes a difference.
St. Therese of the Child Jesus taught us to do all things for the love of God. “Therese of Lisieux, also known as the Little Flower, lived her life in childlike simplicity. By surrendering herself completely to the everlasting love of God, she learned to do all things – no matter if big or small, with great love.
“I love you, Lord, my strength” Ps.
18. The future is unpredictable. The pandemic has brought us to our knees in
prayer, clasping our hands, imploring God to save us. Loss of livelihood,
breathing and lives have affected and infected us. Jesus teaches us to Love God
and neighbor and if we do so our love as one City will save us! (MBC)
