Wholehearted Love of God and Neighbor: The Foundation of Our Faith

Homily for the 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B

Fr. Ugochukwu Ugwoke, ISch

Bible Texts: Deuteronomy 6:2-6; Hebrews 7:23-28; Mark 12:28b-34

The readings for this 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time draw us into a profound reflection on the very heart of our faith: the love of God and neighbor. The words we hear today are not only ancient teachings, but they serve as the foundation for a life truly lived in union with God.

In the first reading from Deuteronomy (Deut 6:2-6), we find Moses addressing Israel, calling them to faithfulness in their covenant with God. Here, we are reminded of the “Shema” - “Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone!” This prayer, which is still central to Jewish life today, is not just a command; it is a declaration of God’s unique relationship with his people. In that passage, Moses went on to say, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength” (Deut 6:5). The heart of the law is not merely obedience but a relationship of love that pervades every aspect of life.

This passage marks a shift from purely external obedience to an internal, personal relationship with God. It is not enough to simply follow commands; God desires our whole being, our very life. This commandment, however, was challenging even for Israel. Over time, their understanding of the law risked becoming superficial and legalistic, focused more on the letter than the spirit. Today, this reminder is for us as well: that our faith is not just in external actions, but in a genuine, committed love for God that flows into every facet of our lives.

In today’s Gospel (Mark 12:28-34), we see one of the scribes approaching Jesus with a question that was often debated among the Jewish teachers: “Which is the first of all the commandments?” Jesus responded by bringing together two commandments that encapsulate the entire purpose of the law: to love God fully and to love one’s neighbor as oneself. In doing so, he quoted directly from Deuteronomy 6:4-5 and Leviticus 19:18, linking love of God with love of neighbor as two inseparable aspects of a single reality.

Jesus teaches that love of God and love of neighbor are inseparable, showing that our relationship with God cannot be separated from our relationships with others. This teaching was radical in Jesus’ time because it elevated the status of neighbor, including even the most marginalized, to a position of equal importance to one’s duties toward God. The scribe’s response, recognizing the value of love above “all burnt offerings and sacrifices” (Mark 12:33), shows that he understood the essence of true religion - that God’s law is meant to cultivate a life-giving love in the heart of his people. Jesus acknowledged this understanding by telling the scribe, “You are not far from the kingdom of God” (Mark 12:34).

Taken together, these readings invite us to see love as the fulfillment of God’s covenant. In the Old Testament, love for God was often expressed through obedience to the law. However, with the coming of Christ, love now transcends the boundaries of law; it becomes a personal, life-giving relationship. Love is not an abstract ideal but a commitment that transforms our lives, our priorities, and our actions. St. John tells us in his first epistle, “We love because God first loved us” (1 John 4:19). This love is a response to God’s love, which was fully revealed in Christ the High Priest and is made present to us in the Eucharist.

In our lives as Christians, this means embracing love not only as a sentiment but as an action. To love God fully, we must let go of distractions, and attachments that pull us away from God. To love our neighbor genuinely, we must overcome prejudice, indifference, and selfishness. Love, as St. Paul says, is “the fulfillment of the law” (Romans 13:10) because it encapsulates all that God desires for us.

As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: Do we truly love God with all that we are, or have we reserved parts of our lives from his touch? Do we love our neighbors - not only in words but in actions? Today, let us renew our commitment to live out these commandments with the conviction that to love is to live as God’s people. May we seek, in the words of St. Teresa of Avila, to “see Christ in everyone,” offering our love, our compassion, and our hands to the world as living signs of Christ’s presence. In doing so, we will not only draw closer to God but will bring others with us, into the heart of his Kingdom. May Our Blessed Mother, who loved God so completely and served others so humbly, guide us to live fully the call to love, which is at the very heart of our faith. Amen.