Verse of the Day Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. (Matthew 22:37)

Objective Seeing that we are commanded to love God above all and to love everyone else, and especially those in need.

Scripture Passages Exodus 22:20-26 – Moral and Religious Laws Live It! Rules and More Rules (BB p. 107) Psalm 113 – In praise of the Lord’s Goodness 1 Thessalonians 1:5c-10 – The Life and Faith of the Thessalonians Matthew 22:34-40 – The Great Commandment Live It! Loving God Full Blast (BB p. 1422)

Opening Prayer Heavenly Father, through these words help me understand the things you wish to teach me. Dear Jesus, through these words let me feel the love you have for me as you feel your Father’s love for you. Holy Spirit, through these words inspire me to live as a follower of Jesus and bring your love to everyone I meet today. Amen

Greatest Commandment (1:23) Video Greatest Commandment (1:23)

Reading of the Sunday Gospel The Great Commandment (Matthew 22:34-40) Presentation Reading of the Sunday Gospel The Great Commandment (Matthew 22:34-40)

Who were the Sadducees? When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they came together and one of them, a teacher of the Law, tried to trap him with a question. (Matthew 22:34)

Competing Sects Pharisees Sadducees Middle-class businessmen Oversaw local government Comprised minority of Sanhedrin but had more authority More trusted by the Jewish community More concerned with religion Sticklers for “The Law” and traditions of Moses Belief in resurrection and afterlife Wealthy, elite in the Jewish community Primary responsibility to care for the Temple and state affairs Comprised majority of Sanhedrin More concerned with politics Fundamentalist – believed in only the written word Did not believe in resurrection, eternal soul, or angels and demons

The Sanhedrin Both the Pharisees and Sadducees were members of the Sanhedrin. The Great Sanhedrin was the supreme court of ancient Israel, made up of 70 men and the high priest. In the New Testament, the Sanhedrin is best known for their part in the series of mock trials that resulted in the crucifixion of Jesus. Both the Pharisees and the Sadducees earned numerous rebukes from Jesus.

Silencing the Sadducees The Sadducees tried to trick Jesus by using scripture alone. They questioned him about the afterlife, in which they did not believe. (Bad move!) Jesus (being the Living Word) responded by quoting the scriptures and proving that there is indeed an afterlife. Sorry, better luck next time, Sadducees!

Back to our story… “Teacher, he asked, “which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus answered, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the greatest and the most important commandment. The second most important commandment is like it: Love your neighbor as you love yourself. The whole Law of Moses and the teachings of the prophets depend on these two commandments.”

Verses from Old Testament In giving his answer, Jesus quotes two verses from the Old Testament: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind. (Deuteronomy 6:5) Love your neighbor as you love yourself. (Leviticus 19:18) Jesus also affirms that both Sacred Scripture (The Law of Moses) and Sacred Tradition (the teachings of the prophets) are from God.

The Shema The first part of Jesus’ answer, Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind, comes from Deuteronomy 6:5. It is a verse from a scripture passage known as the Shema. Devout Jews were expected to pray this prayer several times a day every day of their life! What Jesus was getting at is to know God is to Pray.

3 + 7 = 10 In giving these two commandments, Jesus sums up all of the Ten Commandments: The first three commandments relate to God. The remaining seven commandments relate to neighbor. The number 3 is the symbol for holiness. The number 7 represents association with God. The number 10 represents absolute completeness.

The Ten Commandments I am the LORD your God. You shall worship the Lord your God and Him only shall you serve. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain. Remember to keep holy the Sabbath day. Honor your father and your mother. You shall not kill. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. You shall not covet your neighbor's wife. You shall not covet your neighbor's goods.

But there’s more… It’s not enough to talk about God, you need to talk with God. You need to pray. And once you pray, you need to act. Actions should flow from beliefs, not the other way around.

Prayer Jesus was a man of prayer. He didn’t just run around doing miracles; he was in constant and regular prayer with God the Father. To be a person after God’s own heart means to be a person of prayer. Prayer is our way to have a relationship with God. Prayer is how we love God with all our heart, all our soul and not just our mind.

Be Silent and Know I AM Here Prayer is when you sit in the presence of God and let him speak to you. And you speak to him…but you probably want to listen twice as much as you talk. Let God speak. Only after you pray should you act because only then can you be certain it’s God’s will and not yours own.

Video Eucharistic Adoration at Catholic Underground (2:07) Or Alleuia (4:48)

Announcements Oct 24 - Scary Movie Night permission slips due tonight! Oct 30 – No Session next week Nov 6 - Permission slips due for 8th Grade Retreat Nov 12 - Next Girls Mentoring Night

Verse of the Day Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. (Matthew 22:37)

Think About It How can you show your love for God and neighbor?

Video Do It Anyway (3:58)

Prayer Petitions For an increase in our passion for evangelization and the support of missionary work through prayer and economic aid, we pray to the Lord. R: Lord, Hear our Prayer That the actions of our world leaders will be conformed to the heart of God who hears the cry of the oppressed, we pray to the Lord. For the poor, the sick, the elderly, the grieving, the lonely, the homeless, the hungry, and the unemployed, we pray to the Lord. For the grace this week to serve the living and true God faithfully and courageously, we pray to the Lord.

Closing Prayer O God, We cannot see you yet you call on us to love you, even as we know you love us. Make us understand that everybody without exception is precious to you, and that to love them is to love you. Let us not be bothered about what we like and do not like but be awake to the needs of all the people we meet, just Jesus did and who is now living with you, forever and ever. Amen