Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Today's Mass Readings
Today’s scripture readings direct us to reflect on life – either lived superficially or lived in the depths of our beings. In the first reading from the book of Deuteronomy Moses tell the people of Israel, “Take these words of mine into your heart and soul” (Deut 11:18). He wanted to take his people away from the superficial practice of the law and focus their attention to making the Law integral to the heart and soul. In other words, the hope is that the lives of the people will be guided by God’s law not from the outside but from the inside out. St. Paul’s words in today’s second reading is similar. He suggests that while the law has been declared by God it is not an end in itself. Rather, it is meant to take us to giver of the Law – Jesus. Our salvation depends on letting our lives revolve around the life and words of Jesus. Both these readings connect us to the gospel reading where Jesus the new Moses says, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven” (Mt 7:21).
Moses, Paul and Jesus teach us today the real meaning of religion. Religion is not about religious obligations for the sake of calming our conscience. Even though the Laws of God point to God’s will, religion is not merely about fulfilling these laws. At some point in the life of each individual religion has to become faith. At some point faith needs to begin to happen not from the outside in but rather from the inside out.
I call this a passion for God, a deep longing for God’s will known to me in the scriptures, and a deep desire to live my life in accordance to the will of God. It is a time in life when no one has to tell me to read the Bible, or celebrate the Eucharist, or to mould my life according to God’s will but it becomes a spontaneous life project. It is not about make-up anymore but about a heartfelt love for God.
Let our hearts, our minds, our wills be at the service of God.
- Fr. Satish Joseph