Saturday, August 29, 2015

The Word Among Us: A Catholic Devotional based on the Daily Mass Reading & Meditation for Sunday, 30 August 2015

The Word Among Us: A Catholic Devotional based on the Daily Mass Reading & Meditation for Sunday, 30 August 2015
Meditation: James 1:17 Every good act of giving and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father who made the heavenly lights; with him there is neither variation nor darkness caused by turning. 18 Having made his decision, he gave birth to us through a Word that can be relied upon, in order that we should be a kind of firstfruits of all that he created.
21 So rid yourselves of all vulgarity and obvious evil, and receive meekly the Word implanted in you that can save your lives. 22 Don’t deceive yourselves by only hearing what the Word says, but do it!
27 The religious observance that God the Father considers pure and faultless is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being contaminated by the world.
22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
Be doers of the word and not hearers only. (James 1:22)
In the Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification, Lutherans and Catholics spelled out their common understanding of and belief in the concept of justification by faith. Issued in 1999, the declaration said, “Together we confess: By grace alone, in faith in Christ’s saving work and not because of any merit on our part, we are accepted by God and receive the Holy Spirit, who renews our hearts while equipping and calling us to good works” (15).
Faith in Jesus is the way to salvation. We cannot save ourselves. At the same time, faith calls us to do good works. C. S. Lewis once said that any discussion about which is more important—faith or works—is as senseless as asking which blade of a pair of scissors is more important. Both are important. Both are critical. Both are necessary.
If faith were not vital, we would have to ask, “Then why did Jesus die for our sins?” If works were not crucial, we would have to ask, “Why did Jesus tell us to go out and evangelize, care for the poor, visit the sick, and feed the hungry?”
Faith and works are inseparable. When people asked Jesus, “What can we do to accomplish the works of God?” he answered, “This is the work of God, that you believe in the one he sent” (John 6:28, 29). Even faith in Jesus takes work. It means entrusting ourselves to his saving grace. It means choosing to surrender ourselves to him and obeying his word.
So make it a point to put your faith in Jesus every day. At the same time, make it a point to serve the Lord and to care for his people. Be a believer and be a doer. You have incredible gifts. They were given to you so that you would build the kingdom of heaven on earth. Use your talents for God, and you’ll see people’s faith come to life.
“Jesus, you are my Savior. I believe in you, Lord!” Amen!
Deuteronomy 4:1 “Now, Isra’el, listen to the laws and rulings I am teaching you, in order to follow them, so that you will live; then you will go in and take possession of the land that Adonai, the God of your fathers, is giving you. 2 In order to obey the mitzvot of Adonai your God which I am giving you, do not add to what I am saying, and do not subtract from it.
6 Therefore, observe them; and follow them; for then all peoples will see you as having wisdom and understanding. When they hear of all these laws, they will say, ‘This great nation is surely a wise and understanding people.’ 7 For what great nation is there that has God as close to them as Adonai our God is, whenever we call on him? 8 What great nation is there that has laws and rulings as just as this entire Torah which I am setting before you today?
Psalm 15:2 Those who live a blameless life,
who behave uprightly,
who speak truth from their hearts
3 and keep their tongues from slander;
who never do harm to others
or seek to discredit neighbors;
4 who look with scorn on the vile,
but honor those who fear Adonai;
who hold to an oath, no matter the cost;
5 who refuse usury when they lend money
and refuse a bribe to damage the innocent.
Those who do these things
never will be moved.
Mark 7:1 The P’rushim and some of the Torah-teachers who had come from Yerushalayim gathered together with Yeshua 2 and saw that some of his talmidim ate with ritually unclean hands, that is, without doing n’tilat-yadayim. 3 (For the P’rushim, and indeed all the Judeans, holding fast to the Tradition of the Elders, do not eat unless they have given their hands a ceremonial washing. 4 Also, when they come from the marketplace they do not eat unless they have rinsed their hands up to the wrist; and they adhere to many other traditions, such as washing cups, pots and bronze vessels.)
5 The P’rushim and the Torah-teachers asked him, “Why don’t your talmidim live in accordance with the Tradition of the Elders, but instead eat with ritually unclean hands?” 6 Yeshua answered them, “Yesha‘yahu was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites — as it is written,
‘These people honor me with their lips,
but their hearts are far away from me.
7 Their worship of me is useless,
because they teach man-made rules as if they were doctrines.’[Mark 7:7 Isaiah 29:13]
8 “You depart from God’s command and hold onto human tradition.
14 Then Yeshua called the people to him again and said, “Listen to me, all of you, and understand this! 15 There is nothing outside a person which, by going into him, can make him unclean. Rather, it is the things that come out of a person which make a person unclean!”
21 For from within, out of a person’s heart, come forth wicked thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, 22 greed, malice, deceit, indecency, envy, slander, arrogance, foolishness…. 23 All these wicked things come from within, and they make a person unclean.”
Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion:
[Mass Readings:
1st Reading: Deuteronomy 4:1 “Now, Isra’el, listen to the laws and rulings I am teaching you, in order to follow them, so that you will live; then you will go in and take possession of the land that Adonai, the God of your fathers, is giving you. 2 In order to obey the mitzvot of Adonai your God which I am giving you, do not add to what I am saying, and do not subtract from it.
6 Therefore, observe them; and follow them; for then all peoples will see you as having wisdom and understanding. When they hear of all these laws, they will say, ‘This great nation is surely a wise and understanding people.’ 7 For what great nation is there that has God as close to them as Adonai our God is, whenever we call on him? 8 What great nation is there that has laws and rulings as just as this entire Torah which I am setting before you today?
Responsorial: Psalm 15:2 Those who live a blameless life,
who behave uprightly,
who speak truth from their hearts
3 and keep their tongues from slander;
who never do harm to others
or seek to discredit neighbors;
4 who look with scorn on the vile,
but honor those who fear Adonai;
who hold to an oath, no matter the cost;
5 who refuse usury when they lend money
and refuse a bribe to damage the innocent.
Those who do these things
never will be moved.
2nd Reading: James 1:17 Every good act of giving and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father who made the heavenly lights; with him there is neither variation nor darkness caused by turning. 18 Having made his decision, he gave birth to us through a Word that can be relied upon, in order that we should be a kind of firstfruits of all that he created.
21 So rid yourselves of all vulgarity and obvious evil, and receive meekly the Word implanted in you that can save your lives. 22 Don’t deceive yourselves by only hearing what the Word says, but do it!
27 The religious observance that God the Father considers pure and faultless is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being contaminated by the world.
Gospel: Mark 7:1 The P’rushim and some of the Torah-teachers who had come from Yerushalayim gathered together with Yeshua 2 and saw that some of his talmidim ate with ritually unclean hands, that is, without doing n’tilat-yadayim. 3 (For the P’rushim, and indeed all the Judeans, holding fast to the Tradition of the Elders, do not eat unless they have given their hands a ceremonial washing. 4 Also, when they come from the marketplace they do not eat unless they have rinsed their hands up to the wrist; and they adhere to many other traditions, such as washing cups, pots and bronze vessels.)
5 The P’rushim and the Torah-teachers asked him, “Why don’t your talmidim live in accordance with the Tradition of the Elders, but instead eat with ritually unclean hands?” 6 Yeshua answered them, “Yesha‘yahu was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites — as it is written,
‘These people honor me with their lips,
but their hearts are far away from me.
7 Their worship of me is useless,
because they teach man-made rules as if they were doctrines.’[Mark 7:7 Isaiah 29:13]
8 “You depart from God’s command and hold onto human tradition.
14 Then Yeshua called the people to him again and said, “Listen to me, all of you, and understand this! 15 There is nothing outside a person which, by going into him, can make him unclean. Rather, it is the things that come out of a person which make a person unclean!”
21 For from within, out of a person’s heart, come forth wicked thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, 22 greed, malice, deceit, indecency, envy, slander, arrogance, foolishness…. 23 All these wicked things come from within, and they make a person unclean.”]
1. In today’s first reading, Moses declares that the Israelites’ obedience to the commandments of God would be a great witness to other nations and would bring glory to God. Why do you believe this is so? In what way is our obedience to Christ and his commandments in our daily lives a witness to others that he is truly the Lord? How are you doing?
2. Moses also warns the Israelites to keep God’s law, not adding or subtracting from it. Why is this also true of us when it comes to Christ’s and the Church’s teachings? Why is being faithful to these teachings not just a matter of trying harder to do better, but requires a greater reliance on the grace of God and the power of the Holy Spirit? Knowing this, what steps can you take to help you be more faithful to these teachings?
3. In the Responsorial Psalm, we are invited to see that God demands that in our daily actions, and our dealings with others, we need to walk “blamelessly,” do “justice,” think “the truth” and not “slander.” We also hear these words of encouragement, “Whoever does these things will not be disturbed” (Psalm 15:5). Why is our interior peace so dependent on living a godly life?
4. In the second reading, James tells us that we need to keep ourselves from sin and “to care” for others. In what way does this require us to continue to grow spiritually and to open ourselves more deeply to God’s transforming love? Are there some additional steps you can take to do this, so that so that you will “be doers of the word and not hearers only”?
5. The second reading ends with these words: “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.” What steps can you take to reach out more to others, especially “orphans,” “widows,” and others less fortunate than you?
6. In the Gospel, Jesus presents examples where the Pharisees and scribes have added to God’s law their own commandments (e.g., certain ritual purifications). They are warned against religious observance that is purely external and ritualistic. How does Jesus distinguish between rituals that are empty and those that are from God and are life-giving?
7. Jesus also told the Pharisees and scribes that they “honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.” What can we do in our celebration of the Eucharist, and the other Sacraments, that will allow us to experience greater renewal in our inner selves, so that we are able to manifest the love, power, and compassion of Christ to others?
8. The meditation challenges us with these words: “Faith in Jesus is the way to salvation. We cannot save ourselves. At the same time, faith calls us to do good works.” Why is faith in Jesus the “way to salvation? The meditation goes on to say that “Faith and works are inseparable.” Why are our “good works” the “evidence” of our salvation? If someone were to ask you why faith and works are inseparable, how would you answer him?
9. Take some time now to pray and thank the Lord for setting you free from sin and death, and for the grace to be a better “hearer” and “doer” of the Word of God. Use the prayer at the end of the meditation as the starting point.Use the prayer at the end of the meditation as the starting point.
“Jesus, you are my Savior. I believe in you, Lord!” Amen!
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