22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time - Homily Cycle B – September 2, 2018

Today our Scripture readings challenge us to live authentic lives as disciples of Jesus Christ.  “Who we are, what we believe, how we respond to life's challenges is centered in our souls….  The kind of human being we are begins in the values of the heart, the place where God dwells within - but the evil we are capable of, the hurt we inflict on others, the degrading of the world that God created also begins "within," when God is displaced by selfishness, fear, anger, hatred.” [Connections 9-02-18]

St. Augustine wrote, “A Christian is: a mind through which Christ thinks, a heart through which Christ loves, and a hand through which Christ helps.”  Our Scriptures remind each of us that the truth of our existence is where our will, our heart and our actions merge/combine to direct our lives.  In Deuteronomy Moses teaches the people of Israel [& us] to hear God’s statutes and decrees and to live them.

When Msrg. offered our Opening Prayer [Collect], he prayed, “God of night, giver of every good gift … by deepening our sense of reverence you may nurture in us what is good ….”  The reading from St. James’ letter reminds us that, “All good giving & every perfect gift is from above …. Humbly welcome the word that has been planted in you & is able to save your souls.  Be doers of the word & not hearers only ….”

Mark in the Gospel relates the story about the Pharisees challenging Jesus on “ritual” washing before eating; this is not a lesson on good hygiene, it is a challenge about God’s law verses man’s practices and customs.  They were living the Jewish custom, but not the Jewish law, [the law of Moses].  Jesus is teaching them & us to follow the laws & the customs that take us to God.

Maybe this story can help us, “Is Your Heart In It?”

“…imagine a youngster learning to play the piano.  ‘The child holds her hands just as she's been told...she has memorized the piece perfectly.  She has hit all the proper notes with deadly accuracy.  But her heart's not in it, only her fingers.

What she's playing is a sort of music, but nothing that will start voices singing or feet tapping."  When it comes to faith and life, let’s ask this question: Are our hearts in it or only our fingers?  Are we allowing God's renewing grace to work in us?  [Sermons.com 9-02-18]

We are in an extremely difficult time for our Church and for our Faith. The vile and terrible sins committed by some in our Church make me sick, BUT I know with God’s grace we will come through this crisis as a Church closer to the Lord & a people of God more faithful to Jesus Christ.

The road ahead will be difficult, BUT so was Jesus’ road to CALVARY; remember the Resurrection followed!  Jesus reminds us to follow Him with our whole heart, soul, and mind and allow Him to guide how we live.  God’s Word will form us and direct us if we allow it.

Prayer should be the basis of our relationship with Jesus Christ.  The devil is tempting us to stop praying, but we know in the core of our being that prayer is most need at this time.  Jesus called some people in today’s Gospel hypocrites.  In the 1990’s a musical group called “Milli Vanilli” had 5 big hits, 3 of which were #1 songs.  Then, “… it was discovered that they really weren’t singing on their records or at their concerts.  They were lip-synching.”  [William Bausch, Once Upon a Gospel, p.246]

The Pharisees and some scribes were “lip-synching” their faith.  We are called to reflect on our lives today and consider how we are living as disciples of Jesus Christ.  As we reflect on our discipleship, I suggest we use the Gospel of Matthew Chapters 5-7 as our blueprint to living authentic lives.  St. Francis de Sales said, “Our words must come from the heart, not the mouth.  The tongue speaks only to the ears.  The heart speaks to the heart.”

For a few minutes, in silence, reflect on your actions and your heart.  Are they based on Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount?

May God Be Praised!