This homily was easy: when asked what the first of all the commandments was, Jesus replied: The first is to love God with all you've got, and the second is to love your neighbor as yourself. The scribe then said to him: well said, teacher, these things are worth more than burnt offerings and sacrifices.
What we have here is revelation and recognition of the revelation; God speaking and mankind responding because it touches a core place in men's hearts! We have the manifestation and operation of conscience.
It is written in men's hearts the content of the first and second commandments; but when men and women break the first commandment, when they break the second commandment – and all of the other commandments of the Lord – as men and women are wont to do – no matter how many times they stumble and fall because of it – God will always take them back – he will always forgive their iniquity, if they are repentant and sincere. He will make men blossom like the lily once again! But not without a price! And the price was the death of Jesus on the Cross for our salvation!
Three weeks from today is Good Friday – we still have time during this Season of Lent to turn completely away from sin and to become more faithful to the Gospel than we have ever been. Let us not look at the work of our hands and say: "our god;" but let us rather look at the hands of the Crucified Christ and say: Lord God, have mercy on me, a sinner!
Let him who is wise understand these things; let him who is prudent know them; straight are the paths of the Lord, in them the just walk, but sinners stumble and fall!
Today, if you hear the voice of the Lord, harden not your hearts.
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