30th Sunday, Ordinary Time


THIRTIETH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME 


In our Gospel passage, the theme is unmistakable: it’s all about love of God and love of neighbor (Matt. 22:36-40). It brings to mind a popular anthem from 1967: All You Need Is Love—an expression derived from a popular hit single by the Beatles. As far as songs go, it provides a message, but we would have to regard it as an incomplete message. This is why we typically rely upon something more than just musical lyrics; we more traditionally rely upon the words contained in sacred scripture. We turn for example to what’s presented in the Book of Exodus, 22:20-26. Here we develop a sense of what love “looks like.”  We have the opportunity to examine love’s characteristics. According to Exodus 22 it starts with being compassionate. We’re called not just to be compassionate; it’s a compassion that needs to be put into action. Notice the high praise being directed at the people of Thessalonica (1st Thess. 1:5-10). They not only receive the sacred word; they also put it into practice. 


Therefore, that 1967 anthem outlines what it is that we need, namely love. But it stops short of explaining what love actually looks like, what it might consist of in terms of basic characteristics. Thankfully, the Book of Exodus takes us further along in our pursuit of the question. First, be compassionate. Second, be sure to display this compassion to those who are disadvantaged. Now we can say that the concept is beginning to take shape. It helps hearing that our most fundamental need is a need for love. Yet, we will benefit more extensively if we can picture what love is all about. Fill in the gaps—tell us what love looks like! And, if possible, we’d like to know what love tastes like! 


Consider the following case: a wife and a husband are having trouble making ends meet. The kids are now enrolled in college, and it seems that every spare cent has to go toward either tuition, housing, clothing, or some other college-related expense. One particular day, the wife experiences a craving for peanut butter. They shuffle through the coupons, but they come up empty. No coupon means no peanut butter. The next day, she’s sorting through the cupboards, figuring out what to prepare for supper. Suddenly she finds a fresh new jar of peanut butter! It then occurs to her: she would rather have a husband who brings her peanut butter than a husband who brings her the gift of flowers. 


Properly understood, love represents something more than just a concept. It has a kind of tangibility—and even a taste. In fact, there are those who insist that it tastes a lot like a fresh new jar of peanut butter! 

 

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