In today’s first reading, we hear Moses telling the people that there isn’t anything mysterious about God’s laws.  They weren’t up in the sky or stored in a remote place where they were inaccessible.  They were written down in the book of the law, and in the people’s mouths and hearts.  All they had to do was follow them.  

We’ve heard about how lengthy the book of the law was by Jesus’ time.  There were many rules that the Jewish people were expected to follow.  But they boiled down to two commandments, as the scholar of the law correctly answered Jesus in today’s Gospel reading…love God with all your heart, mind, strength and being, and love you neighbor as yourself.  But because he wanted to test Jesus, he pushed the issue by asking “who is my neighbor?” I can imagine Jesus, speaking to someone today, using a phrase like “it isn’t rocket science, figure it out.” However, Jesus, being very patient, gave the scholar the story of the good Samaritan.  He then answered the scholar’s    question with one of His own…who was neighbor to the robber’s victim?”  When the scholar again answered correctly, Jesus told him to go and do likewise.  

Jesus’ message is the same for us today.  His commandments are unchanged and are what we will be judged on when we stand before Him one day.  Our families, our communities, indeed our entire world is full of people that need our attention, our prayers and our help.  Ignoring them is not an option for a Christian.  There are many ways we can reach out to people in need; simple acts of kindness are important, and we all have time, talent and treasure to share.  We all can do more, and we must.  That is the challenge for each of us…and it isn’t rocket science. 

Reflection by parishioner John Ceglarek