22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
02 September 2018
| Second reading James 1:17-18, 21-22, 27 |
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Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. In fulfillment of his own purpose he gave us birth by the word of truth, so that we would become a kind of first fruits of his creatures. You must understand this, my beloved: let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger; for your anger does not produce God’s righteousness. Therefore rid yourselves of all sordidness and rank growth of wickedness, and welcome with meekness the implanted word that has the power to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves.
Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.
Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.
When the Pharisees and some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus, they noticed that some of his disciples were eating with defiled hands, that is, without washing them. (For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, do not eat unless they thoroughly wash their hands, thus observing the tradition of the elders; and they do not eat anything from the market unless they wash it; and there are also many other traditions that they observe, the washing of cups, pots, and bronze kettles.)
So these Pharisees and the scribes asked him, “Why do your disciples not live according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands?” He said to them, “Isaiah prophesied rightly about you hypocrites, as it is written, ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching human precepts as doctrines.’ You abandon the commandment of God and hold to human tradition.”
Then he called the crowd again and said to them, “Listen to me, all of you, and understand: there is nothing outside a person that by going in can defile, but the things that come out are what defile.” For it is from within, from the human heart, that evil intentions come: fornication, theft, murder, adultery, avarice, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, pride, folly. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”
So these Pharisees and the scribes asked him, “Why do your disciples not live according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands?” He said to them, “Isaiah prophesied rightly about you hypocrites, as it is written, ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching human precepts as doctrines.’ You abandon the commandment of God and hold to human tradition.”
Then he called the crowd again and said to them, “Listen to me, all of you, and understand: there is nothing outside a person that by going in can defile, but the things that come out are what defile.” For it is from within, from the human heart, that evil intentions come: fornication, theft, murder, adultery, avarice, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, pride, folly. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”
By Arthur B. Reyes
I was heartbroken when our national basketball team lost a very close game to China and Korea in the recent Asian games. But I knew that they gave everything they’ve got. We may have disadvantage in size and heft but we obviously have the bigger heart. They say that as long as you pour your heart out to everything you do, you are already a winner! Their battle cry – Puso!
And speaking of “puso”, I remember a story about a man who has a heart attack and is brought to the hospital emergency room. The doctor tells him that he will not live unless he has a heart transplant right away. Another doctor runs into the room and says, "you are a lucky guy, two hearts just became available from the donor. You will get to choose which one you want. One belongs to a politician and the other to a social worker".
The man quickly responds, "the politician's!". The doctor, surprised by the quick answers blurted out - "Wait! Don't you want to know a little about them before you make your decision? The man says, "I already know enough. We all know that social workers are bleeding hearts and the politician's probably never used his. So I'll take the politician's!"
In today’s Gospel (Mk. 7, 1-8, 14-15, 21-23), Jesus speaks about the importance of the heart. All our words and actions are futile except if they are results of what really is in our hearts! If there is no integrity in what we do, say, or think, we are guilty of hypocrisy. Our Lord sees the heart!
There is no denying that most of us are not heart-driven. One good example is in our job place -we work but we don’t commit. With our friends and at home - we care but we don’t show the love. Most of the time we speak a lot and follow it with hollow actions. In our society many people are money-driven and fame-driven. What people now want is instant power, instant fame, instant success no matter how it is achieved, putting morality and righteousness aside in the process.
We are now living in a world where we do everything just to be beautiful and attractive physically. This is true especially in social media! We hide by the “filters”, our inner beauty covered by smoke. Let us not be deceived. For us, the bottom line is still the heart.
Today is also the first Sunday of the month of September! It is the first Sunday of the “ber” months. Christmas is around the corner. Carols will be on the radio soon or they already are. There is one Filipino song that is immensely popular among us as the message is catchy and compelling! And I want to share the last line of this song - “And may the spirit of Christmas be always in our hearts”.
Prayer
I was heartbroken when our national basketball team lost a very close game to China and Korea in the recent Asian games. But I knew that they gave everything they’ve got. We may have disadvantage in size and heft but we obviously have the bigger heart. They say that as long as you pour your heart out to everything you do, you are already a winner! Their battle cry – Puso!
And speaking of “puso”, I remember a story about a man who has a heart attack and is brought to the hospital emergency room. The doctor tells him that he will not live unless he has a heart transplant right away. Another doctor runs into the room and says, "you are a lucky guy, two hearts just became available from the donor. You will get to choose which one you want. One belongs to a politician and the other to a social worker".
The man quickly responds, "the politician's!". The doctor, surprised by the quick answers blurted out - "Wait! Don't you want to know a little about them before you make your decision? The man says, "I already know enough. We all know that social workers are bleeding hearts and the politician's probably never used his. So I'll take the politician's!"
In today’s Gospel (Mk. 7, 1-8, 14-15, 21-23), Jesus speaks about the importance of the heart. All our words and actions are futile except if they are results of what really is in our hearts! If there is no integrity in what we do, say, or think, we are guilty of hypocrisy. Our Lord sees the heart!
There is no denying that most of us are not heart-driven. One good example is in our job place -we work but we don’t commit. With our friends and at home - we care but we don’t show the love. Most of the time we speak a lot and follow it with hollow actions. In our society many people are money-driven and fame-driven. What people now want is instant power, instant fame, instant success no matter how it is achieved, putting morality and righteousness aside in the process.
We are now living in a world where we do everything just to be beautiful and attractive physically. This is true especially in social media! We hide by the “filters”, our inner beauty covered by smoke. Let us not be deceived. For us, the bottom line is still the heart.
Today is also the first Sunday of the month of September! It is the first Sunday of the “ber” months. Christmas is around the corner. Carols will be on the radio soon or they already are. There is one Filipino song that is immensely popular among us as the message is catchy and compelling! And I want to share the last line of this song - “And may the spirit of Christmas be always in our hearts”.
Prayer
Lord, I come into Your presence now. I give myself to You—body, soul, and spirit. I give my heart to You, in every way—including the broken places in me. I declare Your authority over my heart, for You made my heart and You have redeemed my heart.
Heal our hearts so we may know and love you more. Amen.
Heal our hearts so we may know and love you more. Amen.
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