[Exodus 22:21-27; Psalm 18; Thessalonians 1:5c-10; Matthew 22:34-40]
When I was growing up, one of my uncles was a great fan of Marvel Comics where there are Superheroes who all have a superpower. In recent years these have developed into a massive movie franchise bringing these super-heroes to wider and younger audiences. Our Scripture readings today reveal a greater ‘superpower’ one which we have all been born with but need to know Jesus, to activate it.
In the first reading the human race are being given instructions on how to interact with others; both strangers and neighbours. We are told to treat them in a way we would want to be treated. But not only that, we are told that if we do not treat people fairly or with kindness, that there will be penalties for us which will affect not only us, but our whole family. The final words from the Lord in the reading we hear today, are ‘for I am compassionate’. Surely this is a message to us who are made in the image and likeness of God that we too, must be compassionate.
We hear in the psalm where our superpower comes from. It tells us that the lord is our strength, He is our rock, our fortress, our saviour, He is our shield, our saving strength and our stronghold. Staying close to God gives us comfort, it reassures us; it is where we belong.
In his letter to the Thessalonians, St Paul tells them that they became imitators of Christians and of Christ, because they received the Word during much affliction. He emphasised that this was due to the Holy Spirit. Their superpower was their faith, as they allowed the Lord to enter them and fill them with grace.
In the Gospel we hear, yet again, another branch of the Jewish officials attempting to test Jesus. They asked which is the greatest commandment? Jesus said ”You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it. You shall love your neighbour as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” This is our superpower – LOVE. We were born to love, we exist to love and love is far more powerful than hatred.
But how can we love God with all of our heart, all of our soul and all of our mind?
This tells me that we need to have God at the centre of everything we do. For our heart and our soul this involves prayer. Prayer keeps us in touch with God; we speak to God and listen for replies. It also gives us hope. Hope is essential for life, giving us purpose. Our greatest hope is that we can be with God in eternity, our Baptism was the first step on this journey. How do we love God with all of our mind. For this we need to be discerning in what we watch, what we read and who we interact with.
Spending time every day reading Scripture will help us get to know God better, through this we may form a personal relationship with God. Getting involved with the activities involved in our Pastoral Area or further afield in our Diocese, help us to be better informed of our faith and how we should live out our life. Doing this also helps us to spend more time with likeminded people.
Loving our neighbour as ourself is a call to put our faith into action. This is how we demonstrate our love of God through our love of other people and the world God created. Just coming to Mass on a Sunday is not enough to call our self a Christian. We need to live out the word we hear at Mass in our everyday lives.
So, what can that look like in the week ahead?
We can use our superpower by choosing to love more. Maybe we could spend more time reading Scripture instead of time on social media. Maybe we could call a family member who lives alone instead of reading the newspaper. Maybe we could visit a neighbour and check how they are bearing up following the stormy weather. Maybe we could be more discerning about what we watch on television. Maybe we could spend more time in prayer.
Whatever we choose to do, may we become more like the compassionate God who made us, and may it be another positive step on our journey back home to be with Him.
Further Reading
The Catechism of the Catholic Church
Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
CCC 2052-2074: the Ten Commandments interpreted through twofold love
CCC 2061-2063: moral life a response to the Lord’s initiative of love[1]
Please accompany in your prayers
- All those who are sick, either at home or in hospital, especially those who have very few or no visitors.
- Those who have died and those who grieve for them.
- The success of the Pastoral Area Mission Plan.
- The continued success of the Alpha courses taking place in our Pastoral Area.
- The continued success of the Sycamore Programme taking place in Tadley on Tuesday evenings
- Ace, Sienna and Alanna who will be baptised at St Bede’s this weekend.
- The continued success of the Christians Against Poverty [CAP] money coaching sessions, which take place on Thursdays in St Bede’s Church Hall.
Deacon Tony,
24th October 2026
[1] Homiletic Directory, Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments