by Father James Rodriguez
For one of my assignments as a priest, I taught at Cathedral Prep in Elmhurst. I had excellent colleagues on the faculty and bright students who often made me laugh, but more often made me think. In today’s Gospel, a scholar approaches Jesus with a common question for rabbis at the time. Out of the hundreds of laws that bound a faithful Jew, which was the greatest? It was a way of asking Jesus what was most important to him, what gave direction to his teaching and worldview. It’s no surprise to us that his answer is a comprehensive love of God and neighbor, and indeed it encapsulates everything He taught and did, as well as what the Church has taught and done since the Ascension.
Today’s passage from Exodus feels like an expansion of the Gospel, even though it was written centuries before. God has a special love for the weak and the poor, for the defenseless and frail.
This love includes a challenge to us, as St. Vincent de Paul beautifully said: “He loves those who love the poor; for when we truly love someone, we have an affection for his friends and for his servants.”
As members of the Church, the bride of Christ, we have the responsibility to serve the poor and the opportunity to find in this service Christ himself. In fact, a few chapters after today’s Gospel, the Lord teaches, “Whatever you did for the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” It can be daunting and exhausting to work with the poor, but every treasure is worth the dig.
As we continue reading through the Letter to the Thessalonians, this theme of service comes up yet again. St. Paul points out the conversion of these spiritual sons and daughters of his, how their turning from idols led to service of God. This service starts in our prayer and emanates to our families, friends, and the world.
The Christian is a light in the world, and if enough of us are doing what we should, then we can be a bright light indeed. The scholar asked Jesus for his favorite law, and we can take up the same answer. We can fall in love with the law of God more and more each day, the law of love for him who is our rock of refuge.
He came to serve so that we might share what we’ve been given. He himself is our strength, as we said in today’s psalm. He is our rock, fortress, deliverer, stronghold, and savior. He is our sure support, and His love never fails.
There are many different charities and organizations for us to give to, but one in particular has touched my heart deeply over the last few years. World Villages for Children serves nearly 20,000 of the world’s poorest children in live-in schools. I’ve had the great joy of visiting one in Mexico several times now, seeing up close the valiant work of the Sisters of Mary.
Founded by an American priest, Venerable Aloysius Schwartz, this community of holy women serves those holy children because they see Christ in them, and the love of God is so tangible there. The girls I visit are healed by love, and the Church’s work bears fruit.
Father James Rodriguez is the pastor of St. Rose of Lima in Rockaway Beach.