“For what great nation is there
that has gods so close to it as the LORD, our God, is to us
whenever we call upon him?
Or what great nation has statutes and decrees
that are as just as this whole law
which I am setting before you today?” DT 4:6-8
Humbly welcome the word that has been planted in you
and is able to save your souls.
Be doers of the word and 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. James 1:17-18, 21-22, 27
“Hear me, all of you, and understand.
Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person;
but the things that come out from within are what defile.
“From within people, from their hearts,
come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder,
adultery, greed, malice, deceit,
licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly.
All these evils come from within and they defile.” MK 7:21-23
Today, the readings show that Jesus came “not to abolish the law but fulfill it”. In Deuteronomy, we are reminded of how loving and merciful our God is. God spoke with Moses face to face and gave him the law for the Israelites to follow (and us). By following the law, we become wise, safe from evil, and find God. Later the Pharisees are only following the law, but have no compassion or heart. They are caught up in themselves and have lost the point of the law which is to keep their heart’s undefiled. Last, Deuteronomy reminds us that God who set up the Christian faith through the Jewish people and His Son came down to us and lived among us. No other religion has this. No other religion has God speaking face to face with a human to bring us ways to live our lives so we are safe and holy. We have a very special and loving God. Worship, adore, and praise Him everyday.
Second, James reminds us of the importance of the Word, the Truth. We are lied to everyday we turn on the TV, Internet, and radio. We must seek the Truth in the Scriptures and Traditions of the Church, including the catechism. Today, James teaches us: TV, Internet, radio (lies) vs “the word that has been planted in you and is able to save your soul”. Next, he tells us we must be “doers of the word”. Last, a religion that is pure and undefiled before God is one that cares for the least in our communities and to fight sin so we are “unstained by the world”. We have the spiritual gifts of mind/intellect, memory, and will to be an “other” Christ and be “unstained”. We will fall at times and God will cleanse us with His Son’s blood in confession.
Last, Jesus teaches us that nothing that comes from the outside defiles us, but what comes from inside. So, even if we allow lies to enter us, it is what we do with this information in our mind and will. Our mind and will then direct our actions. Jesus says, “from our heart come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft…”, therefore it is important that we control our thoughts, pray, ask St. Michael, our guardian angel, and the intercession of Mary and the saints to help us when we have bad thoughts. Our mind and will are very powerful and since Jesus died for us and we are baptized with the Holy Spirit we are able to conquer these evils and sin. Keep your hearts pure and clean. Stay away from things on TV, Internet, and music that take your thoughts away from God. You are a temple of the Holy Spirit, keep yourself undefiled and live eternity now in this life and the next! Amen. Thank you, Jesus!
Become a saint!
Christian YOLO
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