Gospel for October 31 2021 – Mark 12:28-34
Gospel Reflections for October 31 2021
Halloween Rules
This Sunday is also Halloween, the evening before All Saints Day, that honors all the great heroes of our faith.
The Old English word for “saintly” or “holy” was “hallow” and so the evening before All Saints Day was called “Hallow eve” which eventually became our “Halloween.” The rule was to wear scary costumes to frighten away the devil who, of course, deeply resented All Saints Day.
The only rule now is to have fun wearing crazy costumes and collect treats from neighborhood homes.
Yet this Halloween also arrives with still many Covid rules. Still more rules! Some of you may face workplace vaccine mandates while everyone must still wear masks indoors. I am sure the courts will address these issues soon. I certainly wish all restrictions will soon no longer be actually needed as we finally and safely emerge from the pandemic.
It has been a challenge for our parish and school to stay on top of these ever-changing restrictions. We do our best. It is also hard to know which experts to believe and who has true credibility to speak.
Unfortunately, we do not have a “credibility machine” that we can hook up to officials to measure their honesty accurately. That would certainly help!
One person walks up to Jesus in today’s Gospel to ask his rule on the most important issue of all …What does God want me to do? With remarkable clarity and wisdom, Jesus summarizes thousands of Old Testament rules, as well as the Ten Commandments, into two easy-to-remember rules: Love God with everything you have …and love your neighbor as you love yourself.
This is a rule that you can support and from a person who has perfect credibility and integrity. It is not complicated and has never changed since proclaimed by Our Lord 2,000 years ago. You can certainly trust that Jesus is from God and has full authority to teach.
As you face ever-increasing rules and other challenges today, always do so in a spirit of love, which always seeks the authentic good of the other person.
Always assume the best intentions of those who have different opinions and always stay true to your own faith, hope, and love. Never let someone else’s lack of these virtues affect yours!
The world may go crazy with rules, but not for you. Just love God and your neighbor as yourself.
God Bless!
Fr. Dave
Thanks Father Dave!
You are welome!
What a better way to celebrate Halloween than to remember loved ones that have gone before us into Eternal life.. We see photos displayed in Church of nany of those we remember. Reminding us that our lives here are temporary and we are destined for an Eternal life when it ends.
Yes, I agree. This is very meaningful time to remember those we have lost.
Dear Father Dave,
Several things struck me in your synopsis today, and they were all excellent, but the one that really settled into my brain was to follow the commandments of Jesus by embracing His spirit of love.
It’s a great reminder to calm down in the face of all the rules and restrictions especially when flying to Hawaii where we have family!
God bless you.
Kathleen
I am glad you take the message of this Gospel with you to Hawaii. Have a great trip!
Father my faith has been challenged as iam a canadian native .My mom and Dad where in resedential school years ago we lost our culture but not our Faith i pray everyday and attend my parish church every sunday. please pray for my family ….may God BLESS US
This Gospel messge is not as easy as one wold think. The point that Jesus akes is to love as you love yourself. So as a constant rule that I usually have to remember is when I have erred is to ask God for forgiveness but also forgive myself. I remember the Our Father which says to Forgive us our trespasses AS we forgive those who trespass against us…..
It’s easy to read it and choose to forgive those who trespass against us. But also to forgive myself for constantly blowing it. Sometimes our biggest enemy is ourselves. That is why the scripture says To Work Out our Salvation with fear and trembling an remember Gods mercy.
Yes, this Gospel is a goal to aim at, knowing that we will never arrive at perfect love, but hopefully will improve each day. If we fail, we just get up and start again!
Please be assurred of my prayers!
A precious All Hallows Eve to you our loving Father Dave!!! Loveeeeee our precious Faith !! We are all so blessed!!! With so much loveeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!
Loveeeeeeeeeeeeee, franca and Dick
Thank you!