Deacon Tim’s Column
8-30-09
In the Letter of James in today’s Gospel passage by Mark we have the true definition of religion. James tells us “Be doers of the word 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.”
In Mark, Jesus quotes from the Prophet Isaiah “This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, teaching as doctrine human precepts.” Jesus warns that it is not external observance or the lace of it that determines our relationship with God, but rather a heart that is being continuously transformed by Christ’s love which manifests itself in our external acts.
We can give lip service to Christ’s teachings, spouting “love your neighbor” but unless we actually do love our neighbor, it’s a sham. We can follow all the pious external trappings but unless our heats have been transformed by the workings of the Spirit, it’s all hollow. When we pray, we must mean what we pray and pray what our transformed hearts really mean.
Come Holy Spirit, grant us the Spirit of Fortitude that we may bear our crosses and overcome with courage all the obstacles that oppose our sanctification.
Deacon Tim 734-502-1818
deacontim@tds.net
http://shamrockdeacon/blogspot.com
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