We hear the word of God in different ways and at different times. When we attend Holy Mass either on Sunday or weekdays, we hear at least three readings, first reading, the Psalm and the gospel. We hear the word of God when we read it at home, maybe during family prayer. We also read or hear the word of God during Bible studies. I have attended Bible studies with two different men’s groups since my arrival here. This is encouraging to have different groups setting aside their precious time to read, study and grow in their knowledge and understanding of the sacred word of the Lord. I would like to encourage more people to create time to read, study and pray.
While it's very good to hear, read or study the word of God, it's equally important to endeavor by the help of the Holy Spirit to put into practice the word of God. This is precisely what all our readings today are encouraging us to do.
In the first reading, Moses the great servant of the Lord said to the people, “Now Israel, hear the statutes and decrees which I am teaching you to observe that you may live, and may enter in and take possession of the land which the Lord, the God of your fathers is giving you.”
Again, he said, in your observance of the commandments: “Observe them carefully, for this will give evidence of your wisdom and intelligence. Remember two weeks ago we spoke about wisdom and understanding.” In other words, he who keeps, observes and puts the word of God into practice will be a person of wisdom and understanding.
The Psalmist said: “the one who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord; who slanders not with his tongue, who harms not his fellow man.” Ps 15.
St. James picks up the same theme of putting the word of God into practice when he declared, “Be doers of the word and not hearers only.”
In the gospel JESUS our true teacher warned us to be careful not to substitute our cultural and traditional practices above the teaching or word of God. Citing the prophecy of Isaiah he said, “This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, in vain they worship me, teaching as doctrine human precepts.”
According to Jesus, sins have roots in our hearts. The sins we commit which are always the refusal to obey or observe or put the word of God into practice. He said, “From within people, from their hearts, come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice…arrogance.”
The heart is the place of spiritual battle. It’s the place to fight temptation, to reject or resist sin. We can do this with the word of God. I have always recommended to people who fall into the sin of evil thoughts, go to Psalm 51, read it, let it take root in your heart, in fact commit to memory. Hold on to the phrase, “a pure heart create for me O God.” Matt 5:8: “Blessed are the pure of heart for they shall see God.” To maintain a clean and pure heart, we must practice self- discipline, self-control, make good choices in what programs we watch on the internet/TV, magazine or books. Last Sunday we reflected on making choices in our life. On theft, murder, adultery, remember the commandments of God in Exodus chapter 20:1-17. Overcome greed with generosity. Instead of arrogance learn from Christ who is meek and humble though he is God. Instead of malice, show love to your fellow brother or sister. Christ said, I give you a new commandment: “love one another. As I have loved, so you also should love one another.” Jn 13:34