Reflection for Sunday – October 25, 2026

Irene GoodwinSunday Readings Homilies

Readings: Exodus 22: 20-26; 1 Thessalonians 1: 5c-10; Matthew 22: 34-40 
Preacher: Irene Goodwin

In Charles Dickens book, A Tale of Two Cities, Madame Defarge sat before the guillotines and knitted as people were executed. While she is just a character in the book, there were women who did sit and knit at public executions during the French Revolution.  They were known as Tricoteuses. In reading the book we wondered how anyone in their right mind would consider doing that. And yet several weeks ago we were told the United States was going to publicize an execution of a criminal. I think many were horrified at the idea. Luckily there was enough of an outcry that it has been cancelled.  Some, I suppose could quote today’s scripture as God supporting this kind of activity.

Our first reading tells us how we are to love God. We are told how to care for aliens, widows, and orphans. The writer reminds us to be careful in how we use our possessions.  The problem is God saying, “If ever you wrong them and they cry out to me, I will surely hear their cry. My wrath will flare up, and I will kill you with the sword.” (Ex. 22:22)  

 Wow. How could that be about loving your neighbor? It seems a bit extreme. When we read the Hebrew Scriptures, we do wonder about the violence not only condoned but suggested by God.

I have wondered if that is one of the big reasons God had to come to be with humans.  In the play Fiddler on the Roof there is a dream sequence. Tevye (the husband) is trying to convince his wife, Golde, to let their daughter marry the tailor even though she was promised to the butcher.   So, he tells Golde of his dream. Her grandma came to him and said, “You must have heard wrong” and tells him no she must marry the tailor. Perhaps the creator was up in heaven saying to him/herself, they must have heard wrong. A dream sequence just would not do it. So, the creator sent Jesus to correct some false notions.

Yet, there are still people that use Scripture to condone certain behavior or prove a point. Yes, if we look hard enough, we can find a Scripture that might support our point of view. So eventually I was told not to take Scripture out of context. I thought to myself that it might be difficult or time consuming for the average person. It means taking time with the Scripture passage. Reading what Scripture are around that passage. Then considering what was happening during the time the author was writing a particular letter, Gospel, or book.

I thought about it for a while and thought, ahh, no the entire context of the Bible is to love God, love neighbor. For any passage we are trying to use to prove a point we ask, what does this Scripture have to do with loving God and neighbor? In fact, that is what today’s Gospel says: Love God, love neighbor. “The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments” (Mt. 22:40). Jesus reminds us of the two most important commandments.  They are important to all faiths.

So important you might today notice an Orthodox Jewish person with a Telli fin or phylactery on their forehead. Inside this small box you will find Dt. 6:5-9 which says love and serve God: Repeat it to your children recite it over and over again, bind it to your arm or as a pedant on your forehead. Put them on your door posts and your gates.  Can you imagine how it would be if we were about to get into an argument with someone and there in front of us on their forehead was a symbol that says Love God. What would life be like if all people of the book used that simple phrase—love God love neighbor before acting? What would life be like if leaders of countries, business leaders, teachers, parents, all of us lived with those words imprinted on our hearts, minds, and souls?

Jesus came and walked among us and gave us a whole new model to remind us how God asks us to live. Loving our neighbor in all aspects of our lives. Yes, no dream would be enough. Jesus came and gathered with the sick, widows, aliens, and the poor. He was willing to die for us. If Jesus is our model, does he ask us to give our lives away?  A few weeks ago, in a tweet Pope Leo wrote about how some are martyrs in a single moment. Others he said have a more hidden martyrdom when they give their lives day after day. Whenever we reach out in love to a neighbor whether they are in our family or a stranger, we slowly give a piece of our lives away. Sometimes that is easy. Sometimes it is very difficult. Pope Leo reminds us that it is possible when we have a relationship with God. 

Irene Goodwin
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