for Sunday, August 30, 2015,
Year B,
[Jesus] said to them, Isaiah prophesied about you hypocrites, as it is written: '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."
Then
he called the crowd again and said to them, "Listen to me, all of you, and
understand: there is nothing outside a person that by going in can defile, but
the things that come out are what defile. For it is from within, from the human
heart, that evil intentions come... [Mark 7:6-8, 14]
The language of the readings this week is rich, provocative, and even sensual. The Song of Solomon is clearly a magnificent and moving love poem and the Psalm carries the romance along enticing us with idyllic images saying that the music of strings from ivory palaces makes you glad. [Ps 45:9]
The writer of James tells us that it is through God's generous act of giving that we are brought to birth by the word of truth and are directed to be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger...we are to be doers of the word, and not merely hearers. [James 1:17a, 18a, 19, 22a] But, as always, it is Jesus who speaks bluntly to the Pharisees who make human tradition and precepts into idolatrous doctrine even as they abandon the commandments of God. He tells the rest of us by way of addressing "the crowd" that it is from within, from the human heart, that evil intentions come... [Mark 7:14]
In our own time and "religious practice" when the "tradition" and ritual are the end rather than the means to holiness, when purpose and origin are lost or forgotten, when the "why" of it is no longer considered, we have lost the integrity and intention of the worship of God. We have ceased to be conscious - we are merely hearers, not doers. We are desensitized, sterilized, and removed from receiving and giving the deep, abiding love of God.
Jesus yanks me into awareness that my commitment has become shallow and I hearken back to Ps 51, verses 2 and 10 in particular: Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin...Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
We are given these extraordinary words of love this week to deepen our relationship to God with gladness and singleness of heart [Book of Common Prayer, p. 365] , to be unstained by the world, and to act on behalf of those less fortunate. As we recommit ourselves to the acting within God's commandment, let us welcome with meekness the implanted word that will save our souls as it goes straight to each of our hearts.
The writer of James tells us that it is through God's generous act of giving that we are brought to birth by the word of truth and are directed to be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger...we are to be doers of the word, and not merely hearers. [James 1:17a, 18a, 19, 22a] But, as always, it is Jesus who speaks bluntly to the Pharisees who make human tradition and precepts into idolatrous doctrine even as they abandon the commandments of God. He tells the rest of us by way of addressing "the crowd" that it is from within, from the human heart, that evil intentions come... [Mark 7:14]
In our own time and "religious practice" when the "tradition" and ritual are the end rather than the means to holiness, when purpose and origin are lost or forgotten, when the "why" of it is no longer considered, we have lost the integrity and intention of the worship of God. We have ceased to be conscious - we are merely hearers, not doers. We are desensitized, sterilized, and removed from receiving and giving the deep, abiding love of God.
Jesus yanks me into awareness that my commitment has become shallow and I hearken back to Ps 51, verses 2 and 10 in particular: Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin...Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
We are given these extraordinary words of love this week to deepen our relationship to God with gladness and singleness of heart [Book of Common Prayer, p. 365] , to be unstained by the world, and to act on behalf of those less fortunate. As we recommit ourselves to the acting within God's commandment, let us welcome with meekness the implanted word that will save our souls as it goes straight to each of our hearts.
LET US, GOD’S PEOPLE,
PRAY
Leader: ~ Sovereign God, Generous and Giving, stir our
hearts with noble intentions that we may be quick to listen, slow to speak, and
slower to anger. Infuse our souls with Your perfect love.
LORD of Lights
RESPONSE: Let us hear Your Beloved Voice and be doers of
Your Word
~
Sovereign God, Generous and Giving, impart a purity of purpose to all those who
govern Your peoples in all places, that they may be free of hypocrisy and
filled with justice and mercy. We pray especially for: add your own petitions
LORD of Lights
Let us hear Your Beloved Voice and be doers of Your Word
~ Sovereign God, Generous and Giving, nurture the
hope of those in distress with the pain of illness, depression, or addiction,
and give strength to those who provide for their daily needs. We now join our
voices to pray aloud for those in need…
LORD of Lights
Let us hear Your Beloved Voice and be doers of Your Word
~
Sovereign God, Generous and Giving, soothe the wounds of those who grieve even
as the Court of Heaven opens in a festival of everlasting joy for those we love.
We pray especially for:
LORD of Lights
Let us hear Your Beloved Voice and be doers of Your Word
~
Sovereign God, Generous and Giving, we pause
in this moment to offer You our other heartfelt intentions and petitions, aloud
or silently…
LORD of Lights
Let us hear Your Beloved Voice and be doers of Your Word
~
Sovereign God, Generous and Giving, continually revitalize those who bring us
Your Word and Sacraments, that they may move us from the idolatry of mere human
precepts to honoring Your commandments with each action of our lives. We pray
especially for:
LORD of Lights
Let us hear Your Beloved Voice and be doers of Your Word
The Celebrant adds: Almighty God, we are anointed by Your Oil of
Gladness and called to keep ourselves unstained by the world. Fortify our resolve
to cleanse our own hearts as we think, pray, speak, and act on Your implanted
Word that has the power to save all of our souls. We ask through the perfection of Jesus, our Christ and the wisdom
of the Holy Spirit, who together with You, reign as One God, now and forever. Amen.
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