Daily Readings - Sun Aug 29 2021

¹Hear now, O Israel, the decrees and laws I am about to teach you. Follow them so that you may live and may go in and take possession of the land that the LORD, the God of your fathers, is giving you.²Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the LORD your God that I give you.⁶Observe them carefully, for this will show your wisdom and understanding to the nations, who will hear about all these decrees and say, "Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people."⁷What other nation is so great as to have their gods near them the way the LORD our God is near us whenever we pray to him?⁸And what other nation is so great as to have such righteous decrees and laws as this body of laws I am setting before you today?

James

Chapter 1

¹⁷Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.¹⁸He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.²¹Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.²²Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.²⁷Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

Mark

Chapter 7

¹The Pharisees and some of the teachers of the law who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus and²saw some of his disciples eating food with hands that were "unclean," that is, unwashed.³(The Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they give their hands a ceremonial washing, holding to the tradition of the elders.⁴When they come from the marketplace they do not eat unless they wash. And they observe many other traditions, such as the washing of cups, pitchers and kettles. )⁵So the Pharisees and teachers of the law asked Jesus, "Why don't your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders instead of eating their food with 'unclean' hands?"⁶He replied, "Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written: "'These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.⁷They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.'⁸You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men."¹⁴Again Jesus called the crowd to him and said, "Listen to me, everyone, and understand this.¹⁵Nothing outside a man can make him 'unclean' by going into him. Rather, it is what comes out of a man that makes him 'unclean.'"²¹For from within, out of men's hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery,²²greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly.²³All these evils come from inside and make a man 'unclean.'"

Sermon

In today’s readings, we are reminded of the essence of faith and how it should be lived out in our lives. The first reading from Deuteronomy emphasizes the importance of adhering to God’s commandments, not merely as a set of rules, but as a way of life that reflects our wisdom and closeness to God. Moses urges the Israelites to preserve these teachings without alteration, highlighting their role as a chosen people with a unique relationship with God. This passage serves as a foundation, reminding us that our actions should be guided by divine wisdom. The second reading from James builds on this by focusing on the practical aspects of faith. James encourages us to humbly receive the Word of God and to live it out in our actions. He defines true religion as caring for the vulnerable and maintaining personal purity. This reading challenges us to move beyond mere intellectual acceptance of faith to a life of compassion and integrity, where our actions reflect our beliefs. In the Gospel, Mark contrasts external rituals with internal purity. Jesus criticizes the Pharisees for prioritizing traditions over God’s commandments, emphasizing that true defilement comes from the heart, not from external sources. This teaching invites us to examine our own hearts, recognizing that our thoughts and actions have a profound impact on our spiritual state. Together, these readings guide us to a deeper understanding of faith. They remind us that while traditions and rules have their place, the core of our faith lies in living with a pure heart and demonstrating our beliefs through compassionate actions. As we navigate our daily lives, let us strive to embody this truth, allowing our faith to transform not just our minds, but our hearts and actions as well.