Liturgical Table Talk: 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time
The Hors d'oeuvre
What is something you have done out of love for another person today?
Dig in!
Reading the Gospel of Matthew in the order that the Church has asked us to over the course of the past few months has shown that the common people of Galilee loved and welcomed Jesus. Yet, there is constant and growing conflict between Jesus and the Jewish religious leaders. This Sunday’s gospel stands as an example of that growing conflict, especially when compared to the way Mark and Luke retell the story. Mark remembers the story as an exchange between a scribe and Jesus with the scribe being genuinely friendly and curious about Jesus's opinion on what the greatest commandment is. Similarly, Luke remembers it as a lawyer who also was curious and wanted to understand better as a lawyer would. Both were very friendly. That is not how Matthew remembers the story.
Last week, we saw Matthew use the Greek word “pagideuō” (pag-ee-DOY-oh) to describe a trap that was being set for Jesus with a question about paying taxes to Rome. It is the only time that this particular word is used in the New Testament. Today’s passage is part of the trap. There was no curiosity about the law. The religious leader who asked the question simply wanted to trip up Jesus.
This question and Jesus’s answer to the question seem rather straight forward. However, there are subtle spots in the original Greek that show how Jesus turns things ever so slightly into a radical way.
Verse 37 reads,
"He said to him,
"You shall love the Lord, your God,
with all your heart,
with all your soul,
and with all your mind.”
This would be very familiar to any Jewish believer of the day. It would have been recited several times a day by a faithful Jew and this would have been the expected answer. Then Jesus makes the turn. He says that the second is “like” it. The Greek word for “like” is “homoia”. While they are not necessarily the same, Jesus places weight and gravity to what follows. We are to love those around us as much as we love ourselves. In the Jewish religious mind, there was not much room for just an assent of the mind. The whole person was to be involved and anything a person did was to be concrete and visible. Love of God was to be expressed in prayer and following the law of righteousness. Love of neighbor was also to be concrete. That will be seen in the Works of Mercy as described in Matthew 25.
The final part of this passage that should be highlighted is found in verse 40 with the word “depends”. Other translations use the word “hangs,” and it is probably the better interpretation of the Greek word “krematai” (krem-uh-TYE). That indicates a great weight being supported by two ropes or even hair. It is very fragile and could snap easily. If all of the things we are doing does not have loving God and loving others in real, practical, and concrete ways, then our religious life falls and falls hard.
Please read Matthew 22:34-40 together.
Table Talk
- In concrete terms, how do you demonstrate your own love for God?
- How can you love him more?
- In concrete terms, how do you demonstrate your own love for family, friends, and even those who annoy you?
- How can you love others more?
- Can you think of ways that today’s gospel is challenging you live differently in a specific way?
And for Dessert
Lord Jesus, we first ask for forgiveness for the times that we do not love you as we should. We also ask for forgiveness when we haven’t loved our family as we should or our friends or people at school or people at work. Let love grow within us and let it be shown in real and visible ways. Let your will be done on earth and in our lives as we pray:
Our Father, who art in heaven …
We ask this through Jesus who is Lord forever and ever. Amen.
Song Suggestions to prepare your heart for Sunday's Liturgy
Do Something by Matthew West
Take My Life by Chris Tomlin
Surrounded by UPPERROOM