Reflection upon the Scripture readings for the Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year B
Be doers of the word
and not hearers only,
for one who does justice
will live in the presence of the Lord.
Today's Psalm is worth pondering in full.
Psalm 15:
Lord, who shall be admitted to your tent
and dwell on your holy mountain?2 He who walks without fault;
he who acts with justice
and speaks the truth from his heart;
3 he who does not slander with his tongue;
He who does no wrong to his brother,
who casts no slur on his neighbor,
4 who holds the godless in disdain,
but honors those who fear the Lord;
he who keeps his pledge, come what may;
5 who takes no interest on a loan
and accepts no bribes against the innocent.
Such a man will stand firm forever.
Here we see that if we truly dwell with God, we will be changed and will be holy as Christ is Holy.
birth by the word of truth that we may be a kind of firstfruits
of his creatures. 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."
(Jas 1:17-27)
Be doers of the word
and not hearers only,
for one who does justice
will live in the presence of the Lord.
This shows that the grace of God comes to dwell within us, not simply to hover above us, or make us "appear" righteous, but truly transforms us, refashioning us into the image of Jesus Christ.
Be doers of the word
and not hearers only,
for one who does justice
will live in the presence of the Lord.
"Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the
Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their
affliction and to keep oneself unstained by the world."
(Jas 1:17-18, 21b-22, 27)
This is an important line as well.
TOO MANY well-meaning Christians claim that they are NOT religious, but only spiritual.
Well, religion is mentioned in scripture here and it is a good thing, especially in how we treat the most vulnerable.
How orphaned can one be when he or she is unwanted in the womb of his or her own mother?!
The same goes for widows and widowers, the elderly, and indeed all persons.
Be doers of the word
and not hearers only,
for one who does justice
will live in the presence of the Lord.
Finally, the Gospel of Mark shows that "Nothing that
The same goes for widows and widowers, the elderly, and indeed all persons.
Be doers of the word
and not hearers only,
for one who does justice
will live in the presence of the Lord.
Finally, the Gospel of Mark shows that "Nothing that
enters one from outside can defile that person; but the
things that come out from within are what defile."
Mark 7:1-23
In other words, it is not the outward appearance that
transforms the person, but rather the inward conversion,
the inner transformation, propelled by the Grace of God,
the Love of Christ, and the fire of the Holy Spirit.
Be doers of the word
and not hearers only,
for one who does justice
will live in the presence of the Lord.
Deacon John William McMullen
29 August 2015
* I welcome comments.
If you use my material in your own homilies or other writings or blogs, kindly reference my work.
things that come out from within are what defile."
Mark 7:1-23
In other words, it is not the outward appearance that
transforms the person, but rather the inward conversion,
the inner transformation, propelled by the Grace of God,
the Love of Christ, and the fire of the Holy Spirit.
Be doers of the word
and not hearers only,
for one who does justice
will live in the presence of the Lord.
Deacon John William McMullen
29 August 2015
* I welcome comments.
If you use my material in your own homilies or other writings or blogs, kindly reference my work.
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