Scripture Reading(s)
Leviticus 19:1-2, 9-18
19:1 The LORD spoke to Moses, saying:
19:2 Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them: You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy.
19:9 When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap to the very edges of your field, or gather the gleanings of your harvest.
19:10 You shall not strip your vineyard bare, or gather the fallen grapes of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the poor and the alien: I am the LORD your God.
19:11 You shall not steal; you shall not deal falsely; and you shall not lie to one another.
19:12 And you shall not swear falsely by my name, profaning the name of your God: I am the LORD.
19:13 You shall not defraud your neighbor; you shall not steal; and you shall not keep for yourself the wages of a laborer until morning.
19:14 You shall not revile the deaf or put a stumbling block before the blind; you shall fear your God: I am the LORD.
19:15 You shall not render an unjust judgment; you shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great: with justice you shall judge your neighbor.
19:16 You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not profit by the blood of your neighbor: I am the LORD.
19:17 You shall not hate in your heart anyone of your kin; you shall reprove your neighbor, or you will incur guilt yourself.
19:18 You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against any of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD.
Reflections
In the NT Jesus sums up the whole of the law as loving God and loving your neighbor.
Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38This is the first and greatest commandment. 39And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:37-40)
Part of Jesus’ reasoning came directly from this passage. The law given to the Israelites was not just liturgical. There is a lot of communal commands that we would consider to be less of a law and more of a guide for all people in all time periods. This is one of those life guides.
While we are no bound to the law like the Israelites were, we are still bound to the life style that God designed for us. That life style was affirmed by Jesus’ own words and this whole passage is part of it. In this passage, the Lord emphasizes taking care of the poor, the alien, and our neighbors. Those three groups are the people that we will most be likely to neglect. But no not allow yourself to become cold or calloused towards them. We have a God-given command to protect them. It is unconditional. It’s is not a matter of if we want to.
Moreover, we will be judged by how well we do these things. When Jesus returns He will be looking for people who took care of “the least of these”. Do not be caught unaware when Jesus returns.