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The Gospel Proclamation
The Pharisees and some of the scribes ... noticed that some of his disciples were eating with defiled hands ... without washing them .... So the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, “Why do your disciples not live according to the tradition of the elders but eat with defiled hands?” He said to them, “Isaiah prophesied rightly about you hypocrites, .... “This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching human precepts as doctrines.’ You abandon the commandment of God and hold to human tradition”. ...
Prayerful Awareness
“This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines, human precepts” (vs. 6)
Let us ask the Holy Spirit to take us into the mind of Jesus and thereby get at the true meaning of these words. Let us pray and reflect ....
“This people honours me with their lips ...” Yes, Jesus does not seem to approve mere lip service. He cannot be impressed by our external acts, even those supposed to be “good”, even acts of worship. But, Jesus seems to desire more. What is it? Let us reflect ...Yes, for Jesus, what seems more precious is our interior disposition - “but their hearts are far from me.” Jesus looks at our hearts and not at our actions.
This seems to be a theme that runs through the scriptures. As we read the scriptures, let us be more conscious to take notice of this aspect, specially in the discourses of Jesus.
Our actions are connected with our body. But, Jesus seems to say that He is more concerned about the motives, or the heart condition that provoked the action. This constitutes the soul condition. It seems that we need to be concerned or in touche with the condition of our hearts, for it is this that matters. For it is this interior condition of ours or the state of our soul that matters to God.
Our actions, our external behaviour, can impress the world outside, but not God. It seems that it is the condition of our soul that will determine the future of our everlasting life, hereafter.
Therefore, we are called to look at our interior more than our exterior. Let us be in touch with our motives.
Prayer Starter
Lord, God of Israel, there is no God like You in heaven above or earth below You keep Your covenant of kindness with Your servants, who are faithful to You with their whole heart ... (1 Kings 8:22...)
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