TWENTY-SECOND SUNDAY OF YEAR B
1st/2nd September 2018

Dear Parishioner

Today's readings explain what true religion is. It is not simply a scrupulous, external observance of rules, laws, traditions and rituals. It is a loving, obedient relationship with God expressed in obeying His Commandments, worshipping Him, recognizing His presence in other human beings and rendering them loving and humble service. Prayers, rituals, Sacraments and religious practices only help us to practice this true religion in our daily lives.

The first reading explains that religion is a Covenant relationship with a caring, providing and protecting God, fostered by keeping His Commandments given through Moses. God gave Israel the Law so that the Israelites might keep their Covenant with Yahweh and thank Him for His love and fidelity to His Chosen People. The Law was also intended to keep them a united, holy and intelligent nation, proud of their powerful, protective, single God.

In the second reading, St. James defines true religion as keeping the word of God and doing His will by helping the needy, the poor and the weak in the community. He challenges Christians to become doers of the word, not merely hearers.

In today's Gospel, Jesus describes true religion as serving God and all His children with a pure and holy heart. The Gospel explains the encounter of Jesus with the Sanhedrin observers and the Pharisees who had been sent to assess his unique, controversial teachings. These experts had found Jesus' teachings an open violation of the "Traditions of the Elders, and his implied and spoken claims "blasphemous. They also noticed that Jesus' disciples omitted the required ritual washing before meals. The original noble purpose was to sanctify the daily lives of the people, making them "holy as God is holy" ("You are a priestly kingdom, a holy nation" -- Ex 19:6), and different in lifestyle from their pagan neighbours. Jesus uses the occasion as a teachable moment to give them the following lessons: 1) don't teach human doctrines as dogmas of Faith. 2) Sincerity of heart, internal disposition, purity and holiness are more important than mere external ritual observances. 3) Keep your heart holy as it is the source of sins, vices and evil habits. The observance of traditions and of washing rituals does not correct the internal motivations and inclinations that really defile people. 4) External piety without internal holiness is hypocrisy.

So let us try our best to learn and keep the spirit of the Church's laws and ritual practices and let us avoid the tendency to become cafeteria Christians that is, to choose certain Commandments and Church laws to follow, and to ignore the others as we choose certain food items and ignore others in a cafeteria.

Fr Sabu Pariyadan RCJ

SEND, O LORD: HOLY APOSTLES INTO YOUR CHURCH

Notices:
Please remember to pray for:

Daily for the sick clergy of our Diocese

The sick and housebound

Those who have recently died

Years Mind:
Sunday: Fr Cyril Shepherd
Tuesday: Fr Patrick Cavanagh
Saturday: Mgr Michael Wilson

Next Sunday - TWENTY-THIRD SUNDAY OF YEAR B

First Reading: Isaiah 35:4-7
The ears of the deaf shall be unsealed and the tongues of the dumb shall be loosed.

Second Reading: James 2:1-5
God chose the poor to be the heirs to the kingdom.

Gospel: Mark 7:31-37
He makes the deaf hear and the dumb speak.