8 Jun
Thu
9th Week in Ordinary Time
Tob. 6:10-11; 7:1,9-17; 8:4-9
Ps. 128(127):1-2,3,4-5
Mk. 12:28-34
(Ps Wk I)
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In today's Gospel reading, Jesus urges us to love God and neighbour. For Jesus, these two commandments are equal and inseparable. As the greatest commandment is two-fold for Jesus; this means that we can love God only by loving our neighbour. This is the radical re-interpretation of loving God and neighbour.

Since love is a gift initiated by God, it is the source of our love for God and others. Only when we experience the liberating love of God that we are capable of coming out of our selfishness, fear, thus offering ourselves in love to God and others particularly those marginalized and rejected in our society.

The sacrifical dimension of love is the call not to make rituals and sacrifices as a substitute for or a measure of our love for God. Jesus' teachings on love is a reversal of the priority of sacrifices and devotion. It goes beyond the human values. He shows it so clearly in His sacrificial act of love on the Cross. For Him, God is the 'above all'.

In the first reading, we see how Tobias put God first in his marriage to Sarah. Do we put God first in all we do and say? How do we reveal God's love in and through us in our care for the underprivileged and marginalized in our midst? Do we care enough?



Lord, grant us the strength to share Your love for us in the fruitful service to those needy ones around us.


DAILY OFFERING
Eternal Father, I offer You everything I do this day; my thoughts, words, joys and sufferings. Grant that, vivified by the Holy Spirit and united to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, my life this day may be of service to You and to others. I also pray that all those preparing for marriage discover in Sacrament the source of Christ's grace for living a fithful and fruitful love. Amen.

PRAYING WITH THE CHURCH
INTENTION
That national leaders may firmly commit themselves to ending the arms trade, which victimizes so many innocent people.
Elaboration

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