August 29, 2021, Sunday
Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time (Green)
CYCLE B - YEAR I
Lectionary: 125
Reading I
Dt 4:1-2, 6-8
“Now, Israel, hear the statutes and decrees
which I am teaching you to observe,
that you may live, and may enter in and take possession of the land
which the LORD, the God of your fathers, is giving you.
In your observance of the commandments of the LORD, your God,
which I enjoin upon you,
you shall not add to what I command you nor subtract from it.
Observe them carefully,
for thus will you give evidence
of your wisdom and intelligence to the nations,
who will hear of all these statutes and say,
‘This great nation is truly a wise and intelligent people.’
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?”
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 15:2-3, 3-4, 4-5
R. (1a) The one who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.
who thinks the truth in his heart
and slanders not with his tongue.
R. The one who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.
nor takes up a reproach against his neighbor;
by whom the reprobate is despised,
while he honors those who fear the LORD.
R. The one who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.
and accepts no bribe against the innocent.
Whoever does these things
shall never be disturbed.
R. The one who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.
Reading II
Jas 1:17-18, 21b-22, 27
All good giving and every perfect gift is from above,
coming down from the Father of lights,
with whom there is no alteration or shadow caused by change.
He willed to give us birth by the word of truth
that we may be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
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.
Alleluia
Jas 1:18
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
that we may be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
GOSPEL
Mk 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23
gathered around Jesus,
they observed that some of his disciples ate their meals
with unclean, that is, unwashed, hands.
—For the Pharisees and, in fact, all Jews,
do not eat without carefully washing their hands,
keeping the tradition of the elders.
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. —
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?”
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;
in vain do they worship me,
teaching as doctrines human precepts.
You disregard God’s commandment but cling to human tradition.”
He summoned the crowd again and said to them,
“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.”
REFLECTION:
What make us unclean, unwashed hands or hearts full of resentments and hatred? It seems that this question has been asked for us how many times. Whenever we examine our conscience we are being reminded to focus more on the purity of our intentions and actions. We will be judged by God not on what we put into our mouth but with what we do in order to let other people feel the love of God. Sometimes, there are tendencies that we focus more on the peripherals not on the core of our being. With this, we tend to be more hypocritical with our actions and we always wait for praises and acknowledgments. The Gospel reminds each of us to allow God to enter into our lives and let Him shape our hearts and minds.
PRAYER:
Lord Jesus, fill us with your Holy Spirit and make our hearts like yours – on fire with love and holiness. Strengthen our will that we may always choose to love what is good and to reject what is evil. Continue to remind us that without You we can do nothing for you are the source of our inspiration and good tidings.
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