22ND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR B

Deuteronomy 4:1-2.6-8 

Psalm 14 

James 1:17…27 

Mark 7:1-8.14-15.21-23

TRUE RELIGION

Religion is not to be understood simply as a system of beliefs, rules and practices. It should be a way of life. Thus, Christianity is a way of life, characterized by an intimate and loving relationship with God through his Son Jesus Christ.

In the first reading, Moses presented the immutable character of the Law received from God who is very close to his people. He called on the Israelites to put it into practice. For faithful obedience to this Law would make the people of Israel unique and great in the eyes of the surrounding peoples (Deut. 4,1-2.6-8).

However, obedience to God’s laws does not mean external observance of a set of traditions, but adherence and fidelity to God’s will. This is what justifies Jesus’ criticisms against the Pharisees and scribes in today’s gospel (Mark 7:1-8.14-15.21-23). They were attached to human traditions on external purity, forgetting what true religion means. In fact, external observance of the ritual purity is good, but when it is divorced from the heart, it leads to hypocrisy and rigidity. And it is this hypocrisy that Jesus denounces.

True religion therefore consists in loving, forgiving, sharing, showing compassion, seeking truth and justice, etc. Such practices come from the heart and make man righteous. But negative thinking and evil deeds (fornication, theft, murder, adultery, avarice, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, pride, folly, etc.) come from the heart, and make man unholy. Thus, it is only when we allow the Word of God to purify our heart and transform our way of life that we can become true worshippers of God.  

As such, our salvation does not simply depend on our being baptized, being a member of a church, going to church on Sunday, paying our tithes or even only listening to the Word of God. It does depend on how we put God’s Word into practice, for we are not to be just listeners but doers of the Word (cf. James 1:17…27). It is evident that unless we build an authentic and personal relationship with God in fidelity and care for our fellow human beings with a genuine and sincere heart, all our religious practices will be sterile and lip-service. Let us pray therefore that the Lord may fill our hearts with genuine love for him and for our brothers and sisters.

 Amen