First Reading
Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-8
Moses said to the people: “Now, Israel, hear the statutes and decrees which I am teaching you to observe, that you may live, and may enter in and take possession of the land which the Lord, the God of your fathers, is giving you. In your observance of the commandments of the Lord, your God, which I enjoin upon you, you shall not add to what I command you nor subtract from it. Observe them carefully, for thus will you give evidence of your wisdom and intelligence to the nations, who will hear of all these statutes and say, ‘This great nation is truly a wise and intelligent people.’ For what great nation is there that has gods so close to it as the Lord, our God, is to us whenever we call upon him? Or what great nation has statutes and decrees that are as just as this whole law which I am setting before you today?”
Second Reading
James 1:17-18, 21b-22, 27
Dearest brothers and sisters: All good giving and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no alteration or shadow caused by change. He willed to give us birth by the word of truth that we may be a kind of first-fruits 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, deluding yourselves. 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.
Gospel Cycle Cycle B
Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23
When the Pharisees with some scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus, they observed that some of his disciples ate their meals with unclean, that is, unwashed, hands. — For the Pharisees and, in fact, all Jews, do not eat without carefully washing their hands, keeping the tradition of the elders. And on coming from the marketplace they do not eat without purifying themselves. And there are many other things that they have traditionally observed, the purification of cups and jugs and kettles and beds. –So the Pharisees and scribes questioned him, “Why do your disciples not follow the tradition of the elders but instead eat a meal with unclean hands?” He responded, “Well did Isaiah prophesy 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 as doctrines human precepts. You disregard God’s commandment but cling to human tradition.” He summoned the crowd again and said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand. Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person; but the things that come out from within are what defile. “From within people, from their hearts, come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly. All these evils come from within and they defile.”
Truly we are all like the people in the Gospel of Mark today: From within people, from their hearts, come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly. All these evils come from within and they defile.
Also in our hearts we encounter a love for God and a desire to live according to His way. God Himself has put that desire there. Thus our human life becomes a struggle to live for God and in God. We don’t always win the struggles, but with God’s help we can remain faithful in the spiritual combat.
We are also like the people in Letter of James: 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. All of us can recognize when there is truly charity and love. When we see others doing wonderful works of mercy and love, we recognize that this is of God. We are challenged to begin to live that same way in our lives.
The reading from Deuteronomy today challenges us also: For what great nation is there that has gods so close to it as the Lord, our God, is to us whenever we call upon him?
There is no God like our God, who has sent His only Son in our human flesh to redeem us and who daily gives us His Holy Spirit to guide us in truth and to help us seek to respond to our Father.
The readings today are an encourage and an invitation to live more deeply our life of faith. Let us listen to our hearts, where we encounter the living God. Let us remain faithful to this God who loves us in Christ Jesus. Let us live the spiritual combat every day of our lives. In that combat, we must fight against all that would make less our relationship with God.
My sisters and brothers, let us commit ourselves to loving our God and to expressing that love by our works of charity and mercy.