Today's Gospel Reading - Sunday, September 2, 2012 with Reflection

1^ST READING - Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-8

P S A L M - Psalm 15:2-3, 3-4, 4-5

R: The one who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.

2 Whoever walks blamelessly and does justice; who thinks the truth in his heart 3 and slanders not with his tongue. (R)Who harms not his fellow man, nor takes up a reproach against his neighbor; 4 by whom the reprobate is despised, while he honors those who fear the Lord. (R) 5 Who lends not his money at usury and accepts no bribe against the innocent. He who does these things shall never be disturbed. (R)

2^ND READING - James 1:17-18, 21-22, 27

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

The Father willed to give us birth by the word of truth that we may be a kind of first fruits of His creatures.

Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23

1 When the Pharisees with some scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus, 2 they observed that some of his disciples ate their meals with unclean, that is, unwashed, hands. 3 For the Pharisees and, in fact, all Jews, do not eat without carefully washing their hands, keeping the tradition of the elders. 4 And on coming from the marketplace they do not eat without purifying themselves. And there are many other things that they have traditionally observed, the purification of cups and jugs and kettles and beds. 5 So the Pharisees and scribes questioned him, “Why do your disciples not follow the tradition of the elders but instead eat a meal with unclean hands?” 6 He responded, “Well did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; 7 In vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines human precepts.’ 8 You disregard God’s commandment but cling to human tradition.” 14 He summoned the crowd again and said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand. 15Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person; but the things that come out from within are what defile.” 21From within people, from their hearts, come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder, 22 adultery, greed, malice, deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly. 23 All these evils come from within and they defile.”

SABBATH

TRUE HOLINESS IS TRULY HUMAN I had an amusing experience in one of my travels to the Holy Land. Whenever we did a “comfort room stopover,” our Israeli tour guide would ask each one of us as we go back to our bus, “Did you remember to wash your hands?” This routine question was not just for sanitary and hygienic purposes, but one conditioned by his socio-religious upbringing. The Jewish religious tradition has stiff and meticulous pointers on cleanliness. Muslims also do a lot of ceremonial washings. Entrance to their mosques requires not only the removal of footwear, but also the washing of feet, hands, eyes, ears and mouth. Likewise, during the Catholic celebration of the Eucharist, the priest also does ablutions — that is, the washing of his hands — as he prepares the gifts of bread, wine and water on the altar. The ceremonial washings practiced by religions flow from our belief that God whom we seek to encounter and approach is All Holy. Therefore, we also need to come before Him clean and worthy. What we fail to remember at times is that what God really values is the heart, or what is inside us. We often focus on external details of worship — on the right words and actions, right doctrines, and such other points. But what we forget is that we are — with our whole mind, heart, and will — the true glory of God. We are God’s greatest work, the Temple of His Spirit. True worship of God means living up to our dignity in truth, in justice and love. True worship includes seeing to it that we give due respect to other people. Mystery of the Incarnation underscores the value of humanity before God. This Christian mystery celebrates Jesus’ being True God and True Man. The plan of God does not negate human nature but the renewal of our appreciation of true humanity as made in the image of God. Mother Teresa of Calcutta had this at the heart of her mission. She saw to it that every sick and dying who came under her care was given due respect in treatment, and proper burial according to the dead person’s religious conviction. Fr. Domie Guzman, SSP REFLECTION QUESTIONS: How do you offer God true worship? How often do you celebrate the Sacrament of Confession? How do you value this Christian Sacrament? Lord Jesus, help me to always remember to come clean before You — in thought, word and deed.

Blessed John Francis Burté and Companions, pray for us.

Do you want to receive this in your email?  To get Bo Sanchez to send it to you personally, log-on to http://kerygmafamily.com.
Lots of surprises await.