​Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Dear parish family and friends of St. Julia,

We will hear Jesus proclaim in our Gospel from Matthew 22:34-40 this weekend the greatest of all the commandments: “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might.”

This was first recorded in the Book of Deuteronomy (chapter 6, verse 5).  Long before the coming of Jesus Christ as man, taking on our human flesh, God gave this commandment to the people, through Moses.
 
Centuries later, when a scribe approached Jesus, asking him which is the first or greatest of all the commandments, Jesus answered with the very words from Deuteronomy, well known to the scribe, or any devout Jew for that matter.  Jesus would go on to add “You shall love your neighbour as yourself,” which Jesus would have known well as coming from the Book of Leviticus (chapter 19, verse 18).
 
Each Sunday when we gather for Mass, we are reminded of these two great commandments on our banners adorning our sanctuary here at St. Julia.  Love God.  Love people.   They truly are inseparable.  Each and every day we have numerous opportunities to show this love: in our homes, places of work, our schools, to the poor and marginalized  – everywhere. 
 
May we call upon the Holy Spirit to ignite that fire within each of us, that fire of love that can change our lives, our community, and our world.

May God bless each of you and those that you love,
 
Fr. Greg