HOMESCHOOL – 31st Sunday of Year B

The Meaning of Shema

Core Concepts

Q: What is the Shema prayer and why is it significant?
A: The Shema prayer, found in Deuteronomy 6:4-5, is considered the “greatest commandment” by Jesus and summarizes the primary Judeo-Christian truth that there is one God in a relationship with us.

Q: How often is the Shema prayer recited and why?
A: Jews recite the Shema prayer daily, at the beginning and end of the day, as instructed in Deuteronomy 6:7, serving as a constant reminder of the most essential truth in Judaism and Christianity.

Practical Application

Q: What physical objects are used to remember the Shema?
A: Jews use tefillin (boxes on arm and head containing tiny scrolls) and mezuzah (box above doorway) to keep the words of the Shema close and fulfill the commandment to “write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates“.

Q: What is the core message of the Shema prayer?
A: The Shema prayer emphasizes loving God with all one’s heart, soul, and strength, responding to God’s love through this relationship-building commandment.

Interfaith Relations

Q: Did Jesus invent the “greatest commandment”?
A: Jesus quoted the Shema from Deuteronomy 6:4-5 as the greatest commandment, demonstrating the continuity between Jewish and Christian teachings on loving God with all one’s heart, soul, and might.

Historical Context

Q: How did Jesus relate to the Shema?
A: Jesus, like his fellow Jews, would have recited the Shema daily at the beginning and end of the day, as it was a well-known prayer in his time and he quoted it when asked about the greatest commandment.

Theological Significance

Q: Does the Shema prayer suggest polytheism?
A: No, the Shema emphasizes monotheism, declaring “The Lord is our God, the Lord alone,” affirming there is only one God who is in a personal relationship with believers.

Q: What role does the Shema play in daily religious life?
A: The Shema functions as a daily reminder of the greatest commandment to love God wholly, reinforcing the most essential truth in Judaism and Christianity through regular recitation and physical observances.

Religious Devotion

Q: Is reciting prayers multiple times daily excessive?
A: The Shema was considered so crucial in Jewish daily life that it was recited multiple times a day, upon waking and before sleeping, following the instruction to discuss it “when you lie down and when you rise” (Deuteronomy 6:7).

Ways to Connect This Event
to Sunday’s Readings

As the 2024 presidential election approaches, Christians are faced with the challenge of discerning how to apply their faith to pressing issues like abortion, the economy, and climate change. By examining these topics through the lens of Mark 12:28b-34, where Jesus emphasizes the importance of loving God and neighbor, we can gain valuable insights into how our faith can inform our engagement with these complex issues.

ABORTION

Loving God and neighbor in the context of abortion requires a nuanced understanding of the issue. On the one hand, our love for God calls us to respect the sanctity of life, which includes protecting the unborn. As beings created in God’s image, unborn children are intrinsically valuable and deserve protection. On the other hand, our love for neighbor must extend to expectant mothers, many of whom face difficult circumstances that lead them to consider abortion.

In approaching abortion as a political issue, we can express our love for God and neighbor by advocating for policies that promote the dignity of all human life, including both the unborn and their mothers. This might include supporting legislation that restricts abortion while also championing measures that provide resources and support for women facing challenging pregnancies. By engaging in compassionate dialogue and pursuing a consistent ethic of life, we can strive to embody Christ’s love in our approach to this sensitive issue.

ECONONOMY

Economic policy is another critical area where our love for God and neighbor can shape our engagement. The biblical concept of justice encompasses more than just legal fairness; it also includes economic equity and opportunity for all. In Leviticus 25:35-37, God instructs the Israelites to help their impoverished neighbors and avoid exploitative lending practices. This principle can guide our thinking on economic policies today.

Loving God and neighbor in the context of economic issues involves considering the impact of policies on all people, especially the marginalized and vulnerable. This might include advocating for fair wages, accessible healthcare, and affordable housing, as well as evaluating candidates’ proposals on tax policies, job creation, and income inequality. By striving for economic policies that promote the common good, we demonstrate our commitment to loving both God and neighbor.

IMMIGRATION

Addressing immigration through the lens of Mark 12:28b-34, we are called to love God and neighbor, which requires empathy, compassion, and a commitment to justice for all people, regardless of their immigration status. As Christians, we recognize the inherent dignity and value of every human being, and our love for neighbor extends to immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers.

In approaching immigration as a political issue, we can express our love for God and neighbor by advocating for policies that balance the need for secure borders with a humane and just approach to those seeking a better life in the United States. This might include supporting comprehensive immigration reform, offering support for refugees and asylum seekers, and standing against policies that separate families or discriminate based on ethnicity or country of origin.

The biblical narrative is rich with stories of displacement, migration, and the call to welcome the stranger (Exodus 22:21, Leviticus 19:33-34, Matthew 25:35). By allowing these themes to inform our engagement with the issue of immigration, we can strive to embody Christ’s love and compassion for all people, regardless of their national origin or immigration status.

It is essential to acknowledge that the central message of Sunday’s Gospel is the love for God and neighbor, which extends far beyond political affiliations and specific policy debates. The Gospel invites us to embrace a radical, self-giving love that transcends partisan divisions and calls us to prioritize our ultimate allegiance to Christ. As we engage in political discussions and decision-making, we must remember that the Gospel’s primary focus is not on temporal power or policy victories but on the transformative power of Christ’s love. By keeping this perspective, we can approach the presidential election with a commitment to love, justice, and compassion while remembering that our ultimate allegiance lies with Christ and his transformative message of love for God and neighbor.