Hypocrisy is overcome by charity that begins in the heart…
(08-30-2009)
All of our readings for this Sunday address laws and actions—words and deeds. Scripture, once again asks that we reflect and examine our conscience and how we are living what we claim in Christ. What conversion is needed to reflect what we claim in faith? God often puts before us what we need to unlearn and the more we refuse to unlearn-- the more God puts in front of us what we need to unlearn. We cannot speak one message and live another and not expect to pay for double standards—true hypocrisy. Hiding behind righteousness—verbalizing civil and Church laws, while behaving immorally with such behavior as infidelity in a marriage, cheating on taxes, stealing from work, cheating in school, sneaking pornography, casts a huge shadow on our lives and the way we see life. Fears build—most often that of being caught, anger and subterfuge, rage and irrational behavior are often the symptoms of hypocrisy—double standards and a hidden “life”—which is really a slow death while alive. We cannot put the words of law into place and not expect to live the words of the law—civil or Church law.
LIVING OUR WORDS—today’s readings directly speak to walking the walk not just doing the talk. Jesus in our gospel from Mark today calls us to examine our work, our way of living as he quotes Isaiah,
“Well did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites, as it is written:This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; in vain do they worship me,teaching as doctrines human precepts. You disregard God’s commandment but cling to human tradition.”
For Jesus--what is on our lips should be in our hearts and reflected in our deeds—we all know this.
We can’t find God if we ignore His presence and live for ourselves. We can’t find God if we are selfish and immoral, both are the same. Our religion isn't a matter "me and Jesus"; it is a matter of witnessing Jesus in all that we do, not just in religious prayers, or reciting the catechism of the Church and its laws, but in our daily actions. Our focus needs to be on the Mercy and Compassion of God that we experience in Jesus Christ—and then live such a focus.
Just as the second reading from The Letter of James demands of us:
“Be doers of the word and not hearers only, deluding yourselves. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained by the world.”
We are blessed to have and be “doers of the word”--put our faith into action. What we share here is extended and multiplied every day, 365 days of the year, and 24 hours a day. The blessings include hundreds of volunteers—English speaking and Spanish speaking, serving our faith family and community.
Perhaps our readings this weekend will move you, to do something beautiful for God, your neighbor and yourself to do what St. James also instructs: “Humbly welcome the word that has been planted in you and is able to save your souls”.
Maybe it will be to take the time and volunteer for those who carry the cross of illness or help those who have physical hunger and needs met by our St. Vincent de Paul volunteers, or helping with our school children, or religious education, or sign up to spend time before the Blessed Sacrament in our Perpetual Adoration Chapel in prayer, or join our SJ Men’s Club, or help support our building needs—Movimiento Familiar Cristiano-(Christian Family Movement) for Spanish speaking couples, Jesed for young adults, or Youth Ministry-English and Spanish, or help with our newly formed Hospitality Ministry or any one of the 40 opportunities and blessings that put our faith into works of true religion.
God loves us because He sees His reflection in us. It is the reflection we are to see in the actions of one another—witnessing faith—not just talking about it. I am blessed to see God in you in so many ways and helps my faith witness and my love for you to grow. And I know it is the same for many of you who see witness of faith in one another—it builds the Body of Christ and the love of neighbor.
That’s all we have to do to be tied to God, to care for those who are in need, share joy with one another, and do so inside and outside of our church and home.
Be doers of the Word! Fr. Gordon
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