Daily Readings - Sun Sep 02 2018

Deuteronomy

1Now therefore hearken, O Israel, unto the statutes and unto the judgments, which I teach you, for to do them, that ye may live, and go in and possess the land which the LORD God of your fathers giveth you.2Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.6Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.7For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the LORD our God is in all things that we call upon him for?8And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day?

James

17Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.18Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.21Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.22But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.27Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.

Mark

1Then came together unto him the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, which came from Jerusalem.2And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen, hands, they found fault.3For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders.4And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brasen vessels, and of tables.5Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands?6He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.7Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.8For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do.14And when he had called all the people unto him, he said unto them, Hearken unto me every one of you, and understand:15There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man.21For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,22Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:23All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.

Sermon

Today’s readings invite us to reflect on the relationship between faith, tradition, and the heart. In the first reading from Deuteronomy, Moses reminds the Israelites of the importance of following God’s commandments without adding or subtracting from them. This emphasizes the sacredness of God’s word and the need to live by it. The reading from James complements this by urging us to be “doers of the word” and not merely listeners. True religion, James says, is about caring for the vulnerable and keeping oneself pure in a world often dominated by sin. The Gospel from Mark challenges us to examine our priorities. Jesus criticizes the Pharisees for focusing on external rituals, like washing hands, while neglecting the deeper truths of God’s commandments. He reminds us that what defiles a person comes not from outside but from the heart—evil thoughts, adulteries, murders, and greed. These readings are connected by a common theme: the call to live a life of integrity and authenticity. Deuteronomy warns against distorting God’s word, James emphasizes putting faith into action, and Mark’s Gospel exposes the hypocrisy of prioritizing human traditions over God’s will. Together, they remind us that true faith is not about outward appearances or rituals but about the condition of our hearts and how we live out our beliefs in daily life. As we apply these readings to our lives, let us ask ourselves: Are we living by God’s word, or are we adding our own twists to it? Are we merely going through the motions of faith, or are we allowing it to transform us from within? Let us strive to be people of integrity, whose actions reflect the love and justice of God. May we keep our hearts pure and our lives aligned with the teachings of Christ, so that we may truly be his disciples, living in a way that honors him not just with our lips but with our lives.