Coming to God through Jesus Christ

 Reflection on Today's Readings, 31st Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year B, October 31st, 2021
Texts: Deut. 6:2-6; Ps. 18:2-4.47.51ab; Heb. 7:23-28;  Mark 12:28b-34
The theme of today's message is taken from the second reading, "he is able for all time to save those who draw near to God through him" We can see in those words who we are, I mean, who Christians are. We are those who have come to God through Jesus Christ. The reading makes us realise that coming to God through Jesus Christ is the surest way to God because Jesus Christ lives forever to intercede for us. We are in a better position than the people of old whose priest is mortal and full of weaknesses. Death brings an end to their intercessions.
Another reason is that Jesus Christ, who is our high priest, is holy, blameless, sinless and exalted above heaven and earth. It is expressed thus: "For it was fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, blameless, unstained, separated from sinners, exalted above the heavens." He is a perfect model for us. Taking Him as a model is one of the ways of coming to God through Him. We are to be holy because He is holy. We are to be blameless because He is blameless. We are to be unstained because He is unstained. We become unstained by regularly washing ourselves through the sacrament of reconciliation. We are to be separated from sinners in our conducts and ways of life because He is separated from sinners; we are not to conform ourselves to the standard of this world. We need to live above the influence of sinners. We must look beyond the earth and our minds be directed towards heaven because He is exalted above heaven and earth. Being exalted above heaven and earth He is before God ministering in the true tabernacle. This  makes His intercession unfailing.
Another way of coming to God through Jesus Christ is by keeping His words, His commandments. Our forefathers in faith came to God through  Moses by keeping the commandments given to them by Moses, the servant of God. This is clear in today's first reading. In the reading, Moses  says, "Fear the Lord your God, you and your son and your son’s son, by keeping all his statutes and his commandments, which I command you, all the days of your life; that your days may be prolonged." They were to display their reverential fear of God by keeping His commandments. If they fear God, they will keep His commandments. The fear is that of reverence, admiration, feeling of awe, attraction and love. Jesus Christ puts it in another form: "If you love Me, you will keep my commandments" (John 14:15). This is re-echoed in our own time that we cannot claim to fear God or love Him, if we do not keep His commandments. Therefore, we are called to keep the commandments of God; they are path to God.
Moses taught the people what it means to love God: they are to love Him above all things. He says, “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. And these words which I command you this day shall be upon your heart.” This means all we do or say should be inspired by love of God; all things should be done to please Him and give Him glory and honour. All our aspirations should be devoted to His glory and honour. We are to be aware of God always and be committed to Him wholeheartedly, without any reservation. What Moses teaches is total self-giving to God. That is what it means to love God.
Jesus Christ, in today's gospel reading, reiterates the same commandments given by Moses and added one. He says, "The first is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second is this, ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” To come to God through Jesus Christ, just like the people of old, we are to love God above all things. The love of God becomes empty and sterile if it does not translate to love of neighbours. St. John says, "Those who say, 'I love God,' and hate their brothers or sisters, are liars; for those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen. The commandment we have from him is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters  also" (1John 4:20-21). Hence, Jesus does not emphasize the love of God alone but also the love of our neighbours. Coming to God through Jesus Christ entails that we love God above all things and our neighbours as ourselves. If we love our neighbours as ourselves, we will not kill our neighbours, we will not deceive our neighbours, we will not cheat our neighbours, we will not curse our neighbours, etc. If we love our neighbours as ourselves, we will bless them, we will work for their salvation, we will value life, etc.
Today we have to examine our hearts to know whether we are what we claim to be; those who have come to God through Jesus Christ. Do we model our lives after Him? Do we keep His commandments? The answer we receive will tell us who we are, whether we are Christians or not.

Thank You, Jesus Christ, for the blessings we receive by coming to God through You.

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke