September 2, 2012, 22nd
Sunday in Ordinary Time B
Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-8; James
1:17-18, 21-22, 27; Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23
What powerful readings for me today. They remind me of how God
has gifted me and at the same time ask what am I doing with these
gifts? Why do I say this?
The first reading is from Deuteronomy which means ‘second law.’ In reality it doesn’t contain a new law different from the Ten Commandments, but is a partial repetition, completion and explanation of the law proclaimed on Mt. Sinai. Moses is urging that it is so important that the people remember how God had chosen them, gifted them and saved them. They should remember this and teach it to their children. Moses is emphasizing to the Israelites the importance of their outward actions and encouraging them to follow not only the Law but all of the statutes and decrees he was teaching them. And there were lots of them, hundreds in fact. Many of these dealt with things ‘clean’ and ‘unclean’. The problem was that the people were so hyper about the ‘clean and unclean aspects’ and so absorbed in these that they did not understand or follow the ‘love’ aspect of the Law.
Jesus is talking about this and putting it so very bluntly to me and everyone, “Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person; but the things that come from within are what defile.” And Jesus spells this out by saying these things originate in my inmost being, in my heart: evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, licentiousness (wastefulness), envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly…” So Jesus is asking me what are my thoughts and motives; why do I act the way I act? To be honest there are times, much too frequent, when I may entertain such thoughts, temptations really, that Jesus is talking about and allow them to linger on and too often stay. This is horrible…it is not of God. When these stay with me have I somehow missed the Gospel message of love? Absolutely; and do I rationalize what I am doing; far too frequently. Jesus is saying that it is what is inside of me and all people that so often determines how I act and each person acts in this world. This is not love.
So what should I be doing? St. James puts it this way in today’s second reading, “Humbly welcome the word that has been planted in you and is able to save your souls. Be doers of the word and not hearers only, deluding yourselves.” By my birth and each person’s birth we are of God and since each is a gift from God each person is loved in an intimate way. As Fr. Anthony Kadavil in Teaching and Preaching Resources says: “Put simply, what’s going on within us has a profound effect on what comes out from us --- whether good or bad. And so today, we take a look inward, deeply and honestly --- not because that is what pure and undefiled religion is all about. No we do so to make sure that we are being attentive to the word within us, the living God who desires nothing more than that we live lives full of love, mercy, and generosity. If we do that well, if we work on having an intimate relationship with the God within, we can be assured that doing the right things in this world will come a little easier for us. The fruits will be there. The pure thoughts and motives will be there. The two will work hand in hand. And things will change. The world will change. We will change.”
So it comes down to me; it always comes down to me. God loves me. God created me in love. God gifts me constantly. God has given me the gift of faith. And God needs me to love and not give ‘lip service.’ When I come to Mass out of habit, I’m like the Pharisees, bringing my body but not my mind. When I pray the Our Father, there should be no question that I am giving my praise and thanks to God and that He will forgive me AS I FORGIVE OTHERS. When I receive His Body and Blood I should say ‘Amen’ which truly means that I believe I am receiving the Body and Blood of Christ.
G.K. Chesterton wrote:
“The
Christian Social Union
was
very much annoyed
because
there were some evils
we
really should avoid
and
so they sang another hymn
to help the unemployed.”He was not knocking prayer but that it has become just a moving of the lips and there was no changing inside. Lord help me to change to be You. So I reflect on:
- Is the faith I express when I celebrate the Eucharist the
same faith when I leave Church?
- Do I live my life in such a way that if God did not exist my
life would not make sense?
- Does my faith make me different from others whose values are
worldly and materialistic?
- Does the virtue of hope brighten my outlook and make me an
optimistic person in love with God?
- Does this hope give me a trust in God so that everything I do
is living according to His commands and His law of love?
- God sees the heart and its fluctuations. He judges us on the
love of our lives and our efforts to love. In the evening of life
God sees not just what we did but the heart of goodness by which we
lived.
- A practical way of letting the good flow is to be grateful.
ON any day we can always think of something to be thankful for. In
thanks, the spirit of joy and blessing flow into us and through us.”
