22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (Cycle B, Year II)

Community Word: Honoring God’s commandments brings peace to our hearts.

Theme: There is peace in our hearts when we confess our sins.

Promise: “Whoever walks blamelessly and does justice; who thinks the truth in his heart … shall never be disturbed.” (Ps 15:2)

Reflection:
God’s will is above human traditions and precepts and His law takes precedence over our traditions, practices and rites. The latter are not substitutes for following the ways of God and for obeying what God wants from us. God cannot be reduced to mere performance of rituals, or observance of rules and regulations. God is honored by living His commandments. He is praised by our good works, and glorified by doing what He desires of us.

What matters is the condition of the heart. Jesus puts greater emphasis on sincere care and concern, not on mere obedience of rules and regulations. We please God more by being genuinely compassionate and concerned, able to understand and uplift the intolerable conditions of our underprivileged brothers and sisters. We can only be close to God by loving Him in His people. And love should be the motivating factor of all our words and actions. Traditions should lead us to love, rather than to finding excuses and justifications for feeling superior to others. God will surely measure us on the basis of how much we love, and the quality of our service.

Worthiness lies in a transformed life. To be a true and faithful disciple of Christ is to have a contrite heart and to live an honest and holy life. Jesus, in today’s gospel, demands purity of heart. If our hearts are pure, then we can speak and share true and inspiring words with others. If our hearts are clean, then we can love, forgive, and be forgiven. For where there is purity of heart, there will be love and faithfulness.

Jesus does not criticize traditions as such, because He himself kept many of them. What the Lord opposes are traditions that are cut off from the faith that gives them life. Traditions do not automatically make a person holy. Holiness and also sin are within the heart and soul of a person. They are ways of either sustaining or distracting our commitment to Christ and our Catholic identity. Traditions should express, renew and deepen, but not replace faith. Following the Lord is not easy in today’s world, but the Church, liturgy, music, teachings, prayers… these should enable us to express and maintain our faith in Christ. Through them, as St. Paul says in today’s second reading, we can welcome the Word, Jesus Christ, in our homes and into our lives. The condition of our heart speaks the truth of what we do. If we obey God’s commandments, then our actions should manifest our sincerest intention of following God’s will. Then we will be able claim the Lord’s promise for this week: “Whoever walks blamelessly and does justice; who thinks the truth in his heart … shall never be disturbed.” (Ps 15:2)

Prayer:
Lord, we pray that our intentions be purified and our faith in You be true and genuine. Help us that our acts of faith are not merely for the eyes of men, but by them we honor and glorify you. Renew our hearts to follow Your commandments in all that we do, rather than follow the dictates of the world. Let peace reign in our hearts knowing that only You are the truth, way and life. Amen.
Reflection Questions:
1. What are the intentions behind everything I do and in everything I say?

2. What is the true condition of my heart towards the last, the least and the lost?

This Week’s Daily Mass Reading Guide:
Sep 2, 2018 (Sun)-Dt 4:1,2,6-8/Ps 15:2-5/Jas 1:17,18,21,22,27/Mk 7:1-8,14,15,21-23
Sep 3, 2018 (Mon)-1Cor 2:1-5/Ps 119:97-102/Lk 4:16-30
Sep 4, 2018 (Tue)- 1Cor 2:10-16/Ps 145:8-14/Lk 4:31-37
Sep 5, 2018 (Wed)- 1Cor 3:1-9/Ps 33:12-15, 20, 21/Lk 4:38-44
Sep 6, 2018 (Thu)- 1Cor 3:18-23/Ps 24:1-6/Lk 5:1-11
Sep 7, 2018 (Fri)-1Cor 3:18-23/Ps 37:3-6, 27-28, 39, 40/Lk 5:33-39
Sep 8, 2018 (Sat)- Mi 5:1-4/Ps 13:6.6/Mt 1:1-16

“Ignorance of the Bible is ignorance of Christ. Read your Bible daily!”