9TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. 

It’s trendy these days to talk about bringing our “whole self” to work. Today’s Gospel invites us to have a slightly different focus, which we might call “Bring your holy self”—and not just to work, but to everything you do. Not only from nine to five, but from the time you wake up until you fall asleep. Devote yourself to loving God with all your heart, all your understanding, and all your strength. And devote yourself to loving your neighbor as yourself.

Just how can we love God and each other with everything in the busyness of life? On our own strength, we can’t! But here are a couple of suggestions that can help us get closer to that goal.

First, try to bring your holy self to every task before you, whether it’s participating in a meeting or serving dinner or taking out the trash. You can do this by lifting your heart to God and thanking him for the opportunity to do whatever it is you are doing. And you can bring your holy self to the people around you by making it a point to offer them your patience, your time, and your full attention when you are with them.

Second, watch out for worries, regrets, or fears that can weigh on your mind and keep you from bringing your whole—and holy—self to what’s right in front of you. Scripture says to “trust in the Lord with all [your] heart” (Proverbs 3:5). When negative thoughts threaten to overtake your mind, try to “cast all your worries” on the Lord “because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7). Turn your attention instead to gratitude. Thank God for his care and concern for you, and place your trust in his plans for you and your loved ones.

It might seem like a tall order to love God with everything you are and to love your neighbor as yourself. But as you take small steps to turn to him throughout your day, you might find that it’s not quite as complicated as it seems.

“Lord, help me to bring my whole—and holy—self to the people and tasks in my day. I trust in you.”

Tobit 6:10-11; 7:1, 9-17; 8:4-9
Psalm 128:1-5
Mark 12:28-34