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Year - B

Homily for the Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

READ: (Deut 4: 1-2, 6-8; Jas 1: 17-18, 21-22, 27; Mk 7: 1-8, 14-15, 21-23)

REFLECT: Observe and act on God’s laws meaningfully…

Dear friends, we are in the 22nd Sunday in Ordinary time. The liturgy of the word invites us to observe, practice and live God’s laws to bring about transformation in the society for good of all. Today we hear about people taking upper hand with regards to rule and regulation of the society and the practice of catholic or Christian faith for one’s own conveniences and convictions. The readings of the day invite us to see the good in the practices of laws and commandments of God. Ultimately, God laid down norms and laws for the good of human persons and the practice of solid faith grounded in God’s goodness and grace. In what way we need to respect and practice God’s laws is what we shall reflect. Therefore, based on the word of God, I would like to share with you three points of reflections;

1. Observe the statutes of God:

We all of us observe laws in the society or the rules or the commandments of God in the Church for the good of all. It has a system and gives meaning to observe and practice. Something similar observances of laws and commandments we see in the first reading from the book of Deuteronomy. We hear in the first reading from the book of Deuteronomy about observing, practicing and living the laws given by God to the people of Israel. These are the following phrases we find in the first reading; ‘Listen to the statutes, keep the commandments, the righteous laws’. The phrases mark the importance of laws and commandments that God has given to the people of Israel. The basic problem that was faced by the people of Israel was their unfaithfulness in not observing, following and practicing the laws and commandments of God. That’s why they were astray and that’s the reason why they have not reached the Promised Land soon.

Indeed, the laws are given by Yahweh to the people of Israel, so that they observe and follow to keep the covenantal relationship with God and continue the same for time to come. Observing, following commandments and statutes reveal that one is loyal to God and is in relationship with God. That’s what perhaps, God expected from the people of Israel, but they failed to keep up to the laws of God, took the love of God for granted and neglected to observe the laws and commandments of God. It is not something new statutes that God gives to people of Israel through Moses rather it just reveals the importance of laws and how it would help them for the future of living of the people of Israel. Thus, the future security of the people of Israel lies in their obedience to the laws and commandments of God. That’s what we hear at the start of the first reading from the book Deuteronomy, “Now, O Israel, listen to the statutes and the judgments which I teach you to observe, that you may live, and go in and possess the land which the Lord God of your fathers is giving you.”

Further, the reading too gives us a hint as to what would happen when the Israelites observe and follow the statutes and commandments of God. Firstly, the observances of laws and commandments would prove the greatness of God, greatness of the Nation established by God, the closeness of God to the people of Israel. Secondly, it would also prove to other nations that the righteous laws and commands given by God to the people of Israel that the other nations be brought close to God, Yahweh. That’s what the book of Deuteronomy says, “For what great nation is there that has God so near to it, as the Lord our God is to us, for whatever reason we may call upon Him? And what great nation is there that has such statutes and righteous judgments as are in all this law which I set before you this day?” Thus, Moses reminds the people of Israel that they were not only privileged to worship the true God but also privileged to be in close union with God, who comes close to his people whenever they call him for help and support, whose laws are true and righteous.

Pope Francis very beautifully points out the inseparable nature of God’s covenant and Law saying, “The Mosaic Law was related to the Covenant that God had established with His People. Contained in the Torah the first five books of the Old Testament the Law was the means by which the Jewish people maintained their bond with God and respected the Covenant. “Several times, especially in the prophetic books, it is noted that not observing the precepts of the Law constituted a real betrayal of the Covenant, provoking God’s wrath as a consequence. This close connection meant the Covenant and the Law were often understood as two inseparable realities.” Yes, there is the inseparable nature of God’s covenant and laws with the people of Israel. It manifests their faithfulness, closeness and greatness too.

Today, God has made a covenant with us and has laid before us norms to God’s children and followers of Christ. It is by fulfilling God’s commandments that we become his children. Many of us fail to understand the bond that God has established in Christ; many of us fail to observe and follow the commandments given by God. It is not only ignorance but our negligence and lethargy too. Today, we need to understand rightly that God’s laws are perfect and it is meant for communion with him and with the entire human race. Only when we observe, follow God’s statutes that we attune ourselves to the voice of God and are in communion with God. So let us without any compromise observe and practice the laws and commandments of God to experience God’s closeness with us.

2. Absorb God’s word to deed:

We most of us have the desire to hear, listen and study God’s word, but that isn’t sufficient and that’s not the only thing we could do.  We need to go beyond reading and reflection to action. We must also allow the word of God to sink into our lives, seek way out to encounter God deeply and to reshape our lives by the good deeds that we do with the aid and assistance of God’s word.  That’s what the second reading from the letter of St.  James invites us to do. St. James’ interest here is to show that God is good and sends or gives good things and gifts from above.  Therefore, the gifts sent to us by God are always good and not evil. It is our human mind that finds faults with God and his good work over us. In order that we be absorbed into God’s minds, we need to become not only hearers of God’s word rather doers of God’s word too by good deeds. That’s what we hear in the first reading from the letter of St.  James, “Receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But we need to be the doers of God’s word and hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” Yes, by not appropriating God’s word into action, we deceive ourselves and not God. The good thing always results in good works or good deeds. That’s an invitation to all of us to become doers of God’s word than hearers of God’s word.

Perhaps, today we have for the second reading from the letter of St. James 1: 17-22 but the following verses of (Jam 1: 23 -25) show the benefit and fruit of the doers of God’s word, who would obtain blessings from God in abundance. The verse 22a, James speaks of doers of the word but later he speaks of the results of the doers of the work and their deeds. It shows the connection and association between word and work. Word has no power unless it is fulfilled in the work. Therefore a good person is not merely happy with what only he or she speaks rather the good work and good deed he or she does.  The coherence between the word and work would prove the worth of a person. For us Christians, God’s word stands as a normative for us to live and excel in life. When we abide in God’s word, our works bear fruit; when we actualize God’s word, God becomes visible in our works; when we live the word, God bestows blessings in abundance.

Therefore, the difference between the hearer and the doer is lip-service and service. As followers of Christ we not only hear or speak rather we practice God’s word in life, living the word into deed. So that the word of God becomes efficacious and effective, affect and inspire the people to come closer to God. So it depends on us what we would like to choose; to choose between detachment to the worldly or attachment to God and godly things.  That’s what the end of the second  reading opens up ways to understand in what way a religion can be defined pure or impure saying, “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained from the world.” Yes, it is by reaching out to others in need that we show the merciful face of God, the Father, the presence of Christ and the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

We all know who orphans, widows are. They are the ones who find themselves abandoned, helpless, hopeless; it is they who need help and support. By reaching out to those in need, we pour blessings of God in abundance. Today, we need to reach out to people those who are lonely, depressed, divided, upset, worried, weary in many ways. It is not enough that we speak or remember or pray for such people rather it is more important that we do concretely to help them and enable them to come out of painful feelings and realities of life. To engross or engage in such a committed task, we need to absorb God’s word into oneself and appropriate God’s word by good deeds.  Such deeds are holy, valuable, and noble in the sight of God and in the sight of everyone. Such deeds have blessings from God, as we make the face of God manifest to people by good deeds of kindness and compassion.

3. Act on God’s word in obedience:

It is more important to act on God’s word in obedience than to disobey or ignore God’s laws and commandments. Because, acting on God’s word in obedience proves the love that we have for God and for his commands and the love for God himself. There have been lots of human-made rules and regulations based on traditions, situations, likes or dislikes in our human society. It is all for a cause and for a reason. There are laws and legislation as well laid for want of selfish gains or selfish interest to downplay the role of others or one’s dignity. That needs to be rectified to see a society, where everyone is loved, respected, welcomed and accepted. That happens only when we act on God’s word in obedience and not human-made laws that deprive human dignity and destroy humanity. Something similar we find in the gospel reading, where Jesus condemns the Pharisees, who were interested in external or outward works than interior dimension of life that has a real turning point to affect and change the lives of the other.

We hear many instances in the bible that the Pharisees, Sadducees and scribes ask Jesus various questions not to gain wisdom or understand the scripture rather to show that they are more knowledgeable than Jesus or more lawful and right in following laws and legislation of the elders and traditions of the Jewish society or to prove that they are self-righteous. They do all these in order to win over the attraction of others. Therefore, we see their intention is not right and not good. Thus, Jesus uses this as another opportunity to teach them and make them understand what is more important in life God’s laws and  the intention or purpose behind every law. So today The Gospel reading speaks of the observances of laws concerning food before eating; the rituals and observances of washing hands; Jesus corrects them that keeping the heart clean is more important than keeping  the hands clean. That’s why Jesus says, “All the evil things come from within and defile a person.”

Yes, the Jewish leaders were only worried about defiled hands but they did now worry about the defiled heart that deforms or destroys one’s life; the Jewish leaders were interested only in external appearance but not the internal manifestations of the heart that really beautifies life and makes it meaningful. Today, we need to realize that interior thoughts and actions are more important than the exterior appearance and its manifestations. Mostly, we believe what’s visible; we do not understand the interior motives and thoughts; sometimes, we think he or she is very good, later we come to know that they were not so good as we thought off. It is because, most of us don’t reveal the true self to other. Our actions at times are situational; we keep changing ourselves according to situations; what is required is to focus on laws and commandments that are more important and standard as given by God; the true and the sincere attitudes and approaches towards laws and commandments that promotes life and  upholds the Christian values.

Today, when we look deeply into ourselves, we all of fall in the same mode of operation as done by Pharisees, Sadducees and Scribes, we try to overemphasize laws and legislation and ignore the spirit and depth of God’s words, laws and commandments. Jesus never said that laws and commandments are not good. Jesus always sounded his audience and even today all of us that we need to observe, follow and practice what is good and what is most important to human society. More than the spirit of law, the spirit of love that springs from the heart is  very important.  We all know that hand becoming unclean or dirty is not the same as heart becoming unclean and dirty, although the acts are same but the intensity varies. Keeping the hands clean in important but keeping the heart clean is most important and urgent, Because, it is heart that delves, determines, decides what we want to do or what  we want to be. Therefore, focusing more on the heart, the core of human person would definitely bring about real transformation in life. That’s why Jesus that our entire being is defiled by evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride and foolishness. These are the evil ways that haunt the entire human society, defile a person, and destroys a person and his or her relationship with God and with one another.

That’s why Jesus very emphatically says “For it is from within, from the human heart, that evil intentions come.” Yes, the evil intentions stem within, human hearts. Our hearts have the tendency to prone to sin or tempted towards worldly attractions and allurements. It is our heart that we need to keep clean and strong, so that no evil intentions corrupt human heart and detach us from the focus of moving towards God and his kingdom. Most of us have the tendency as well to work hard day and night to keep the outward appearance of our bodies fit and slim, attractive and good but fail at times to keep the heart pure from all evil desires and inclinations.  So let us keep the heart clean and pure; let us not be hypocrites who intend one thing and act on another thing; they give importance to the least and forget the most important that builds and connects with God and  with  one another. Because of their hard practices of ritual and its upper hand, people lost freedom of life and spirituality. It is because of the blind loyalty and rigid obedience of laws. According to the law their hands were pure but not their hearts. They still lacked cleanliness in heart as their intentions were wrong. This is what Jesus condemns about Pharisees, Sadducees and scribes for their hypocrisy.

Jesus does not reproach all tradition, but only the human tradition which has given rise over the sacred Scripture. We as people of God need to know that more than the tradition, the scripture is most important. We have a responsibility to safeguard the tradition, but must take care to distinguish between scriptural teachings (essential) and other traditions (non-essential), without diluting and compromising the value and importance of sacred scripture, because for us Christians, what becomes norm to follow is the scripture, the word of God. So let us pray that we give importance to God word, the Sacred Scripture and implant the word of God in heart to keep our heart pure and clean, so that our hearts dispose to the love and warmth of God in life. Thus, we as Christians value what is more significant and standard in life.

RESPOND:

Do we observe God’s laws and statutes and find meaning in life?

Do we hear God’s word or listen to it and practice them in daily life to bring out changes in the society by good deeds?

Do we act on God’s word in obedience or manipulate the scripture and make it burdensome to people for one’s own conveniences?

Let us observe God’s laws, absorb them in life to good deeds and act on obedience to God’s word for the good of entire humanity. Amen.

Amen. 

God bless us all! Live Jesus!

Fr. Ramesh George MSFS

rameshvkmsfs@gmail.com

9500930968