This Sunday’s second reading from James reminds us of our responsibility to care for the vulnerable populations in our society. In first century Palestine, widows and the orphans were some of the most vulnerable; the poorest of the poor. They had no one to watch out for them and care for their needs, and both the Law and the Prophets commanded that it was the responsibility of the rest of the community of Israel to care for them. And today the Psalmist reminds us that, “the one who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.” And of course, the implication here is that the unjust will not live in the presence of the Lord!
In the Gospel, Jesus chastises the Pharisees and the Scribes for adhering to the “letter of the Law” and not living the “Spirit of the Law”. He turns their world upside down and confronts them with the truth that what is in a person’s heart is more important than simply adhering only to the external precepts of the law. He points out how they have substituted human conventions for God’s laws. He accuses them of a disconnection between their outward pious practices and the true motivations of their hearts.
The prophet Micha, warned that rather than massive sacrifices of animals or even the offering of one’s first born, what God truly desired was “to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God”. Our practices should flow from our identity as the beloved children of God, returning to God that love that has been showered so freely upon us. Jesus commands us to love one another as he loves us and to do as he did, to treat each other with respect and dignity.
The message of God’s Word challenges us to “do justice”, to allow the Holy Spirit, that dwells within us, to transform our hearts from deep within.
Jesus challenges each one of us to become new creations and soar beyond the smallness and stinginess of our human societies and join in building up the Reign of God, a place where all people are valued, loved and cared for as sisters and brothers.
Join me this week as I reflect on: How am I actively doing justice in my daily life? Who are the poor and vulnerable in the world that I am called to care for? What do I need to do in order to let the Holy Spirit take a stronger lead in my life that I might live more justly, and live out my discipleship more authentically?
Blessings,
Fr. Tim
In the Gospel, Jesus chastises the Pharisees and the Scribes for adhering to the “letter of the Law” and not living the “Spirit of the Law”. He turns their world upside down and confronts them with the truth that what is in a person’s heart is more important than simply adhering only to the external precepts of the law. He points out how they have substituted human conventions for God’s laws. He accuses them of a disconnection between their outward pious practices and the true motivations of their hearts.
The prophet Micha, warned that rather than massive sacrifices of animals or even the offering of one’s first born, what God truly desired was “to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God”. Our practices should flow from our identity as the beloved children of God, returning to God that love that has been showered so freely upon us. Jesus commands us to love one another as he loves us and to do as he did, to treat each other with respect and dignity.
The message of God’s Word challenges us to “do justice”, to allow the Holy Spirit, that dwells within us, to transform our hearts from deep within.
Jesus challenges each one of us to become new creations and soar beyond the smallness and stinginess of our human societies and join in building up the Reign of God, a place where all people are valued, loved and cared for as sisters and brothers.
Join me this week as I reflect on: How am I actively doing justice in my daily life? Who are the poor and vulnerable in the world that I am called to care for? What do I need to do in order to let the Holy Spirit take a stronger lead in my life that I might live more justly, and live out my discipleship more authentically?
Blessings,
Fr. Tim
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