Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, as we gather at Holy Mass this Sunday, let us take a moment to reflect upon the readings we will hear. They each speak a powerful truth about our relationship with God and our responsibilities as His followers. In the Book of Deuteronomy, Moses urges the people to hear and keep the statutes of the Lord. He emphasizes that adherence to these commandments will display their wisdom to the nations. James reminds us that all good gifts come from God, and that we are called to be doers of His word, taking action to care for the vulnerable among us. Finally, in the Gospel of Mark, Jesus challenges the Pharisaic emphasis on ritual purity, asserting that true defilement arises not from external sources, but from the intentions and thoughts that reside within our hearts.
Imagine, if you will, a beautiful garden. It is vibrant, alive, and inviting. Each plant is a commandment from God—a guide designed to help us cultivate the garden of our soul. When we till the soil with love, compassion, and integrity, we create a space where the fruits of the Spirit can flourish: kindness, joy, peace, and self-control. The commandments are being treasured, looked after, and implemented in our lives.
But what happens when we neglect those commandments? We allow weeds—greed, malice, deceit—to infiltrate our garden. These weeds may not arrive with a grand announcement; they sneak in quietly and spread rapidly. If ignored, they can choke
the very life out of our spiritual garden, preventing it from producing good fruit.
Statistically speaking, studies show that a majority of people in our society express a belief in God but struggle to align their actions with their beliefs. According to studies done in 2021, roughly 38% of the Canadian population identified as Catholics.
That’s 13 million people. Of those 13 million people only 10-15% attend Sunday Mass regularly. This isn’t a good sign and we pray that changes be made to see this number change, both personal and ecclesial, when it comes to liturgical abuses which may have repelled a number of members away from the Church. However, this dissonance between belief and action in all the factors involved can be attributed, perhaps, to the very human tendency described in today’s Gospel: to focus on external appearances rather than internal realities.
Jesus reflects this when He quotes Isaiah, saying, "This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.” It’s as if He is standing before us today, urging us to delve deeper—to examine not just what we do, but why we do it.
Saint James encourages us with these words, "humbly welcome the word that has been planted in you." Imagine the soil of your heart, rich with potential. Every time we hear the Word of God, we receive seeds of truth that can grow into something beautiful if we nurture them. However, these seeds require action; they need to be watered with our good deeds, especially when caring for the less fortunate as James reminds us. This is not merely an optional task; it’s a vital part of being doers of the word.
Let us not be like the Pharisees, who were caught up in rules and traditions while missing the very heart of God's commandment—love. The essence of our faith is not just in ritual purity but in the relationship that transforms our hearts, which those rituals are supposed to help direct our
attention to, leading us to care for one another genuinely.
As we approach the altar today, let us bring our hearts in humble reverence. Let us ask God to help us uproot whatever defilement resides within, so that we may cultivate a garden that glorifies Him, reflecting the wisdom and justice contained within His commandments.
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