August 29 - 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
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Reading I: Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-8
Responsorial Psalm: 15:2-3, 3-4, 4-5
Reading II: James 1:17-18, 21b-22, 27
Gospel: Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23A 40-year-old woman told me of her love of the church and her respect for Pope Francis. With a tender expression on her face she said,
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“Pope Francis sponsors Muslim refugee families right in the Vatican. He had showers installed in the Vatican for homeless people to use. He celebrates his birthday meals with homeless people.”
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“The sisters who volunteer at the southern boarder translating, nursing, being hospitable; they help in every way they can.”
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“That we sponsor Family Promise supporting homeless families.”
In today’s reading from Deuteronomy, we are directed by Moses to keep the Commandments. Later in Mark’s Gospel, Jesus, specifically, urges us to love God with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our mind and with all our strength and to love our neighbor as ourselves. In today’s Gospel, Jesus focuses on what is within us as being more important than the rituals and practices we may have let take on undue importance. What Jesus wants is our hearts. And what is in our hearts drives, “The one who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord. Whoever walks blamelessly and does justice; who thinks the truth in his heart and slanders not with his tongue.” (Psalm 15:2-5)
By Dr. Deni Mack, Pastoral Associate Emerita
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