Fr. Gerard’s Weekly Column: 11/3/24

“She-ma yisrael, adonai eloheinu, adonai echad” – “Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD alone!”

The first commandment, which Jesus offers in response to the scribe in today’s Gospel, comes from a passage in today’s first reading from the Book of Deuteronomy. These words in Hebrew are also the beginning of a prayer that every pious Jew knows by heart. The Shema is the centerpiece of the daily morning and evening prayer services of the Jewish people. Moses instructed the Israelites to recite this prayer as a reminder and an affirmation to all, especially the children, of their identity as a people and as a declaration of their faith in one God, the God of Israel. At the end of their 40-year journey through the desert, and prior to their entry into the Promised Land, Moses taught the Israelites that the continual focus on this simple prayer would be their best assurance to keep all the statutes and commandments required of them. This prayer would help sustain them as they transitioned from a generation of wandering in the desert to a future of stability, growth, and prosperity in the Promised Land.

It’s important to note that this conversation between Jesus and the scribe represents one of the rare occasions in the Gospel of Mark where Jesus and the religious authorities are united. Obviously, the scribe has witnessed Jesus’ exchanges with the religious leaders and was impressed with Jesus’ responses. He now takes his turn with the question, “Which is the first of all the commandments?” Jesus and the scribe agree that the oneness of God is pre-eminent and, therefore, their dialogue results in an encounter of peace rather than discord.

I need not remind you that a national election is taking place this week. Several of you may have already cast your ballots in early voting. The lived context of the lead up to the election is the dramatic and divisive cacophony we are exposed to via the internet, opinion media and the communities of our neighborhoods and families. What are we to do? How can we live through this? No matter the results of the election, are we capable of reversing the present course of division and the physical, verbal, and emotional violence we are enduring?

Just as Moses advocated, the simple Shema prayer to remind the Israelites who they were, to preserve their unity, promote fidelity and foster stability, we, too, need to rely on this first and great commandment. We are divided on immigration, refugees, gun violence, family values, gender dysmorphia, and many other issues. In addition, within the church, the sins of abuse and failed leadership have fostered division and crippled our missionary purpose.

We have heard the claims that prayer isn’t enough or that prayers are not working. But I am willing to bet, we aren’t really praying. Fidelity to the greatest commandment is not an empty gesture of piety. Nor is prayer a futile exercise in trying to persuade the Almighty. Prayer is humbling and a genuine expression of trust. Our anger does nothing to cultivate peace or bring an end to division. Our willingness to put God first and in the center of all things dissipates the anger and allows us to “give to God.” In so doing, we prepare ourselves to be instruments of peace and bearers of hope. Fidelity to beginning and ending our day with a reminder that our God is Lord, one and alone above all powers, is the greatest commandment because it transforms us and will transform the world.

SIDEWALK PROTESTOR – Last Sunday you may have encountered a man with provocative signs and images that purportedly intended to advocate against abortion. His sign states that people who are registered to a certain political party “kill children.” This is, of course, untrue, and his standing in front of our church is an attempt to either show that the church supports his statement or to shame parishioners who belong to a certain political party. Neither of the major parties, nor their nominees for president, are aligned with the church’s position on abortion and, more importantly, its Pro-Life teaching (as opposed to pro-birth only). Advocacy for abortion rights is not unique to one party. Any acceptance of abortion based upon gestational weeks is an arbitrary distinction that doesn’t respect that the unborn child is a human person from the moment of conception. I and the NCPD have asked the man to go elsewhere but because he remains on the sidewalk and public easement, we cannot have him removed. If he appears again this weekend, I ask that you not engage him but pray for him.

SUNDAY MASS ATTENDANCE – There has been an overwhelmingly positive response to our initiative to increase mass attendance. I am so grateful to parents and catechists who have facilitated this growth. This encouragement of Mass attendance has been an opportunity for us to remember that going to Mass is not optional for a Catholic – it is one of the Ten Commandments and a Precept of the Church. I truly believe that by helping each other to understand what is expected of us, our families and individual parishioners will come to deeply value Holy Mass and desire to encounter the Lord in the Sunday Eucharist.

DOOR INSTALLATION – As of this writing, the installation of our new church doors has begun. We anticipate the completion of the installation by the end of this week. Thank you for your patience and support.

Peace,