You must do what the word tells you
Our readings this week challenge us to reflect on how much the word of God influences the way we live our lives.
In the First Reading, Moses explains to the people that it is by obeying the laws given to them in the commandments that they will have life in the land promised to them by the Lord.
We, like the Jewish Christians who first heard the words of the letter of James (Second Reading), must not only listen to the word, but also do what the word tells us, by caring for those in need, and living good and honest lives.
In the Gospel, Jesus describes the lip-service of the Pharisees, who, as foretold in the words of Isaiah, offer ‘worthless worship’. Their adherence to human traditions and values takes their hearts far from God.
This week we may want to spend time considering how closely our lives reflect what God asks of us, and in what ways – adapting the words of the Psalm – we walk without fault, act with justice and speak truth from the heart.
Chosen to be the children of God, we pray for the grace, strength and courage to live according to the message of the truth we have received through the teaching of Jesus.
