Among the many things that bind the people of Israel together to this day is their shared history: their homeland, their experience of the Exodus, and their enduring faith in God. In today’s first reading (Exodus 22:20-26), Moses recalls certain ethical obligations that remind the Israelites of their responsibility toward the vulnerable, drawing upon their own experience of suffering and liberation. The passage reads: having once been strangers and oppressed people themselves, they must never forget their story or become indifferent to the suffering of others.
Similarly, St. Paul reminds the Thessalonians (1 Thessalonians 1:5c-10) of the transformative power of their faith and the example they have become to others, emphasizing that, remembering where we have come from, what we have endured, and how God has sustained us helps shape who we are and who we are called to become. These passages have one common string, which I see as when we forget our stories, we risk becoming proud, ungrateful, and insensitive to the struggles of others.
In the Gospel (Matthew 22:34-40), Jesus summarizes the law and the prophets in two inseparable commandments: love of God and love of neighbor. Looking at them, we see that the commandments point to our experiences, especially to vulnerability and suffering, which should humble us and deepen our solidarity with one another.
Finally, for this weekend’s reflection, the purpose of the law and every authentic code of ethics is to humanize us, teaching us to recognize and respect the image of God in every person. From all we know, this understanding is the cornerstone of healthy civilizations and the foundation of genuine Christian living. Therefore, as we journey through these periods, let us remember our stories, not to glorify ourselves or dwell in the past, but to cultivate humility, gratitude, compassion, and love. May the memory of where we have been inspire us to build a world in which every person is treated with dignity and no one is forgotten.
