Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time
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August 30, 2024SSeptember 1, 2024
ptember 1, 2024
Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time
Dt 4:1-2, 6-8
Jas 1:17-18, 21b-22, 27
Mk 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23
GROW AS A DISCIPLE | PRAY, STUDY, ENGAGE, SERVE
GROW: Traditions are so important to us! They help define and preserve our heritage and our
communities while also offering comfort and stability. They shape our human world as we see and live
it. But in today’s Gospel, Jesus scolds the Pharisees and scribes for allowing “the tradition of the elders”
to drive them to hypocrisy: “In vain do they worship [the Lord], teaching as doctrines human precepts.”
He accuses them, saying “You disregard God's commandment but cling to human tradition.” How could
this be? Were the laws of ritual purity not important? They were, insofar as they were observed for the
right reason: glorifying and honoring God, and being mindful of their covenantal relationship. We know,
historically, that those who had questioned Jesus, leading to his response, were interested more in
legalities, religious control, pride, and power. There was little “love for their neighbor” and a fair amount
of “love for themselves.” Therefore, Jesus is instructive when he tells them, “Nothing that enters one
from the outside can defile that person; but the things that come out from within are what defile.” In
other words: Ritual actions don’t make us pure; the purity or impurity of our heart is what matters.
GO EVANGELIZE | PRAYER, INVITATION, WITNESS, ACCOMPANIMENT
GO: What does it mean to be pure or impure of heart? Intentions matter; motivations matter. Jesus,
quoting Isaiah, tells the Pharisees and scribes that they are honoring him with their lips but not their
hearts; in other words, they were paying him “lip-service.” “Oh those Pharisees!” we might say. They are
easy to criticize and pontificate upon, aren’t they? But how about us? It is worth looking at ourselves
and honestly asking whether there might be times when we, too, are simply offering lip service to God?
Are we truly offering him our hearts when we engage in our traditions and our activities? Our goal, as
Jesus’ disciples, is to be “doers of the word and not hearers only,” as James puts it so succinctly in his
letter. We are to hear God’s word and commandments and then act on them in love.
ACT: “From within people … come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice…,”
Jesus says. Pray specifically this week for the grace to see where God may want to purify your heart.
Meditate on Psalm 51:10: Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me.
Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time
Dt 4:1-2, 6-8
Jas 1:17-18, 21b-22, 27
Mk 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23
GROW AS A DISCIPLE | PRAY, STUDY, ENGAGE, SERVE
GROW: Traditions are so important to us! They help define and preserve our heritage and our
communities while also offering comfort and stability. They shape our human world as we see and live
it. But in today’s Gospel, Jesus scolds the Pharisees and scribes for allowing “the tradition of the elders”
to drive them to hypocrisy: “In vain do they worship [the Lord], teaching as doctrines human precepts.”
He accuses them, saying “You disregard God's commandment but cling to human tradition.” How could
this be? Were the laws of ritual purity not important? They were, insofar as they were observed for the
right reason: glorifying and honoring God, and being mindful of their covenantal relationship. We know,
historically, that those who had questioned Jesus, leading to his response, were interested more in
legalities, religious control, pride, and power. There was little “love for their neighbor” and a fair amount
of “love for themselves.” Therefore, Jesus is instructive when he tells them, “Nothing that enters one
from the outside can defile that person; but the things that come out from within are what defile.” In
other words: Ritual actions don’t make us pure; the purity or impurity of our heart is what matters.
GO EVANGELIZE | PRAYER, INVITATION, WITNESS, ACCOMPANIMENT
GO: What does it mean to be pure or impure of heart? Intentions matter; motivations matter. Jesus,
quoting Isaiah, tells the Pharisees and scribes that they are honoring him with their lips but not their
hearts; in other words, they were paying him “lip-service.” “Oh those Pharisees!” we might say. They are
easy to criticize and pontificate upon, aren’t they? But how about us? It is worth looking at ourselves
and honestly asking whether there might be times when we, too, are simply offering lip service to God?
Are we truly offering him our hearts when we engage in our traditions and our activities? Our goal, as
Jesus’ disciples, is to be “doers of the word and not hearers only,” as James puts it so succinctly in his
letter. We are to hear God’s word and commandments and then act on them in love.
ACT: “From within people … come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice…,”
Jesus says. Pray specifically this week for the grace to see where God may want to purify your heart.
Meditate on Psalm 51:10: Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me.September 1, 2024
Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time
Dt 4:1-2, 6-8
Jas 1:17-18, 21b-22, 27
Mk 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23
GROW AS A DISCIPLE | PRAY, STUDY, ENGAGE, SERVE
GROW: Traditions are so important to us! They help define and preserve our heritage and our
communities while also offering comfort and stability. They shape our human world as we see and live
it. But in today’s Gospel, Jesus scolds the Pharisees and scribes for allowing “the tradition of the elders”
to drive them to hypocrisy: “In vain do they worship [the Lord], teaching as doctrines human precepts.”
He accuses them, saying “You disregard God's commandment but cling to human tradition.” How could
this be? Were the laws of ritual purity not important? They were, insofar as they were observed for the
right reason: glorifying and honoring God, and being mindful of their covenantal relationship. We know,
historically, that those who had questioned Jesus, leading to his response, were interested more in
legalities, religious control, pride, and power. There was little “love for their neighbor” and a fair amount
of “love for themselves.” Therefore, Jesus is instructive when he tells them, “Nothing that enters one
from the outside can defile that person; but the things that come out from within are what defile.” In
other words: Ritual actions don’t make us pure; the purity or impurity of our heart is what matters.
GO EVANGELIZE | PRAYER, INVITATION, WITNESS, ACCOMPANIMENT
GO: What does it mean to be pure or impure of heart? Intentions matter; motivations matter. Jesus,
quoting Isaiah, tells the Pharisees and scribes that they are honoring him with their lips but not their
hearts; in other words, they were paying him “lip-service.” “Oh those Pharisees!” we might say. They are
easy to criticize and pontificate upon, aren’t they? But how about us? It is worth looking at ourselves
and honestly asking whether there might be times when we, too, are simply offering lip service to God?
Are we truly offering him our hearts when we engage in our traditions and our activities? Our goal, as
Jesus’ disciples, is to be “doers of the word and not hearers only,” as James puts it so succinctly in his
letter. We are to hear God’s word and commandments and then act on them in love.
ACT: “From within people … come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice…,”
Jesus says. Pray specifically this week for the grace to see where God may want to purify your heart.
Meditate on Psalm 51:10: Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me.
