Sunday Lectionary: Be doers of the word
Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time: September 2nd, 2012
There are a number of themes found in this week’s Readings, but they all centre around remaining in right relationship with God through observance of His Word.
In our First Reading, Moses reminds the people of their obligation to observe what God has commanded. If they do this, then they shall remain in covenant with Him and be light to the other nations. In the Second Reading, St. James exhorts his listeners to “Be doers of the word and not hearers only”. Finally, in the Gospel our Lord answers the criticisms of the Pharisees when they complain about his disciples not washing their hands. He responds with a stinging rebuttal, claiming that they “disregard God’s commandment but cling to human tradition”. He goes on to say to the crowd that “nothing that enters one from outside can defile”. It is what we say and what we do which makes us “unclean”.
This Sunday, as we hear the Word of God proclaimed, do we “humbly welcome” it and allow it to penetrate our lives? Do we act on what we hear or are we “hearers only”? As we renew our covenant with the Lord in the Eucharist, let us commit ourselves to be “doers of His word” and to live lives which reflect the holiness of the Lord.
Reading I: Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-8
Many years have passed since the day when God gave His Law to the Children of Israel on Mount Sinai. Moses is reaching the end of his life. Now on the plains of Moab, God commands him to remind this new generation of their covenant with the Lord.
Moses said to the people: “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?”
Questions:
- What is the context of this passage? To whom is Moses speaking?
- What does Moses say to Israel? What must they do?
- If they obey the Lord, what should happen?
Commentary:
Moses said to the people: …
It is towards the end of Moses’ life. As we saw last week, Joshua and Caleb were the only two people who were over twenty years old at the time of the Exodus who actually entered the Promised Land. Moses is speaking to a new generation of Israelites.
…”Now, Israel, hear…
This is the standard liturgical address.
…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….
The statues (“hoq”) and decrees (“mispat”) refer to different aspects of the Law which Israel must observe. If they do ,they will reap the blessings of the covenant and settle in the Holy Land.
…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.
The people are not allowed to “tweak” the covenant. This is what Jesus accuses the Pharisees of in this week’s Gospel Reading. The Pharisees added commandments to the Law and, in so doing, they also subtracted from the Law by violating the very principles on which it was founded!
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.’ …Or what great nation has statutes and decrees that are as just as this whole law which I am setting before you today?”
If Israel observes the Law, other nations will notice and the wisdom of God will be manifested to the world.
The Law of God stood in stark contrast to the surrounding civilizations. The cultures of the time were marked by immorality, such as ritual prostitution and infanticide. Having said that, the Law of Moses had its imperfections. For example, although it limited divorce, the Law did still allow for it. Jesus tells us why:
“Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard“ – Matthew 19:8
These imperfections were dealt with at the coming of Christ. For more information on this subject, please see this article from The Sacred Page.
…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?
The God of Israel is one who attends closely to His people, who shares with them His wisdom and who dwells with them through the Ark of the Covenant.
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 15:2-3, 3-4, 4-5
Our psalm this week praises the man who lives according to the Law of God.
R. (1a) One who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.
Whoever walks blamelessly and does justice; who thinks the truth in his heart and slanders not with his tongue.
Who harms not his fellow man, nor takes up a reproach against his neighbor; by whom the reprobate is despised, while he honors those who fear the LORD.
Who lends not his money at usury and accepts no bribe against the innocent. Whoever does these things shall never be disturbed.
Questions:
- What is the theme of the psalm?
- How does this psalm relate to the other Readings?
Commentary:
R. (1a) One who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.
Righteousness is required to dwell with God.
Whoever walks blamelessly and does justice; who thinks the truth in his heart and slanders not with his tongue.
Not only must one live rightly in actions (“does justice”), one must have internal integrity (“truth in his heart”).
Who harms not his fellow man, nor takes up a reproach against his neighbor; by whom the reprobate is despised, while he honors those who fear the LORD.
The righteous man acts rightly towards his “neighbor” (remember Jesus’ parable of the Good Samaritan). He hates those who do evil (strictly speaking, it is their sin that he hates) and honours those who live in right-relationship with God.
Who lends not his money at usury and accepts no bribe against the innocent. Whoever does these things shall never be disturbed.
The righteous man does not exploit the poor or accept bribes. For more information on the tricky subject of “usury”, please see Wikipedia and this article by Dave Armstrong.
Reading II: James 1:17-18, 21b-22, 27
For the last few weeks we worked through the Epistle to the Ephesians and now we turn to the Epistle of St. James.
There are a number of people named James in the New Testament:
1. James “The Greater”
This was an Apostle and was the son of Zebedee (Matthew 10:2; Luke 8:51; Acts 1:13; 12:2). In Acts 12:12 he was killed by Herod Agrippa in AD 44. Because of this early death it is unlikely that he was the author of this letter.
2. James “The Less”
This was also an Apostle and was the son of Alphaeus (Matthew 10:3; Mark 3:18; Luke 6:15; Acts 1:13).
3. James “The kinsman of the Lord”
We are also told of a James who was a relative of Jesus (Galatians 1:19; Matthew 13:55, Mark 6:3). It also seems that heled the Church in Jerusalem (Acts 12:17; 15:13; 21:18; Galatians 1:19). He was martyred in AD 62 on the orders of Annas II, the High Priest. This James may well also be the James to whom the Lord appeared after His resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:7).
It is quite possible that (2) and (3) are, in fact, the same person and is the most likely author for this letter.
St. James’ epistle is one of my favourite books of the New Testament because it describes what practical Christian living looks like. Again and again he exhorts his readers to allow their faith to find concrete expression in this lives in works of love since. He never tires of saying in many different ways, “faith without works is dead”…
Dearest brothers and sisters: 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.
Questions:
- What do you know about the Epistle of James?
- From where does James say everything good thing comes?
- What are the “lights” mentioned?
Commentary:
Dearest brothers and sisters: 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.
James asserts that all good things come from God. No evil comes from Him.
God is described as “the Father of lights”. He is the creator of the heavenly bodies:
And God said, “Let there be lights in the vault of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark sacred times, and days and years… – Genesis 1:14
who made the great lights— His love endures forever.
the sun to govern the day, His love endures forever.
the moon and stars to govern the night; His love endures forever. – Psalm 136:7-9
However, whereas the stars and planets constantly move and change, casting shadows, God is unchanging and sure.
He willed to give us birth by the word of truth…
God chose to bring new life to us through the Gospel:
Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. – John 1:12-13
For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God – 1 Peter 1:23
…that we may be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.
The “firstfruits” is a reference to the Old Covenant:
You are to give them the firstfruits of your grain, new wine and olive oil, and the first wool from the shearing of your sheep… – Deuteronomy 18:4
The Lord said to Moses, “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘When you enter the land I am going to give you and you reap its harvest, bring to the priest a sheaf of the first grain you harvest. He is to wave the sheaf before the Lord so it will be accepted on your behalf; the priest is to wave it on the day after the Sabbath. – Leviticus 23:9-11
In the Old Testament, an initial portion of a harvest was offered offered to God. The firstfruits indicated that a larger harvest would follow. Likewise, James says that those who receive the “word of truth” are themselves “firstfruits” in the harvest of souls. Paul describes Christ using the same term:
But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. – 1 Corinthians 15:20
Humbly welcome the word that has been planted in you and is able to save your souls.
James exhorts his readers to receive the revelation of God, which began in the Old Testament and culminated in Christ. They are to receive it with humility and to cooperate with it.
James uses the metaphor of a seed in a similar fashion to Jesus:
That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. Whoever has ears, let them hear.” – Matthew 13:1-9, 23
Be doers of the word and not hearers only, deluding yourselves.
James repeats this basic message throughout his epistle. St. Paul says something similar in Romans:
For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous. – Romans 2:13
Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their affliction…
Unlike many today, James has no problem with using the word “religion”. Religion which is “pure and undefiled” is identified as religion which takes care of the vulnerable (“orphans and widows”). Care of the poor is the responsibility of every Christian, not simply the government. When Christians care for the vulnerable, they reflect the fatherly care of God:
A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. – Psalm 68:5
The Lord watches over the foreigner and sustains the fatherless and the widow, but he frustrates the ways of the wicked – Psalm 146:9
Exhortations to care of “orphans and windows” are found throughout the Old and New Testaments:
“Cursed is anyone who withholds justice from the foreigner, the fatherless or the widow.” – Deuteronomy 27:19
Be like a father to orphans, and provide widows with the help their husbands can no longer give them. Then you will be like a child of the Most High, and he will love you more than your own mother does. – Sirach 4:10
In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. – Acts 6:1
All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them – Acts 9:39
Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need. – 1 Timothy 5:3
James isn’t giving a complete definition of religion, but he is getting to the heart of the matter.
… and to keep oneself unstained by the world.
The “world” referred to here is not the goodness of God’s creation, but the falleness which is in opposition to God. Christians must practise the virtue of chastity, not become tainted and indoctrinated by the world.
Gospel: Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23
After spending five weeks working through Chapter 6 of John’s Gospel, we finally return to our Gospel of this year, the Gospel of Mark. When we last left Mark’s Gospel, Jesus had been expanding His ministry, sending the Twelve out two by two to preach and to heal. Now the Pharisees and scribes come to Jesus after having observed His disciples eating their food with unwashed hands. They had questions…
When the Pharisees with some scribes who had come from Jerusalem 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.”
Questions:
- Who were the “Pharisees”? The “scribes”?
- To what do the Pharisees object? Why?
- How does Jesus respond?
- After dealing with the Pharisees and scribes Jesus teaches the crowd. How does he expand on what he’s just said to the Pharisees?
- How does this Gospel relate to the other Readings?
- How will the teachings of this passage affect the Church in the coming years as it deals with the Gentiles?
- How can we apply this passage to our lives?
Commentary:
When the Pharisees with some scribes who had come from Jerusalem…
The “Pharisees” were a religious and political party. They were zealous in their observance of the Law of God and sought after personal holiness. They were commendable in many ways, but their approach to their faith left them vulnerable to ritualism and self-righteousness.
The “scribes’ were those who were versed in the Law.
This group comes down from the “Jerusalem”, the epicenter of Judaism and the religious authorities.
…gathered around Jesus, they observed that some of his disciples ate their meals with unclean, that is, unwashed, hands.
In the Old Testament, there were some ceremonial prescriptions for the priests which concerned washing:
Then the Lord said to Moses, “Make a bronze basin, with its bronze stand, for washing. Place it between the tent of meeting and the altar, and put water in it. Aaron and his sons are to wash their hands and feet with water from it. Whenever they enter the tent of meeting, they shall wash with water so that they will not die. Also, when they approach the altar to minister by presenting a food offering to the Lord, they shall wash their hands and feet so that they will not die. This is to be a lasting ordinance for Aaron and his descendants for the generations to come.” – Exodus 30:17-21
The priests were meant to wash prior to worship and sacrifice. However, this commandment had been extended to include all Jews prior to every meal. This was meant to bring religious meaning to every meal and remind them of the purity required to approach God. This tradition (“oral Law”) was passed down by word of mouth until it was written down in the Mishnah in AD 200.
For the disciples of the Lord, who were taught only the practice of virtue, used to eat in a simple way, without washing their hands; but the Pharisees, wishing to find an occasion of blame against them, took it up; they did not indeed blame them as transgressors of the law, but for transgressing the traditions of the elders. – Theophylact
The problem was that the Pharisees focused on the external observance of this tradition to the neglect of the interior reality of purity. They had failed to observe the heart of the Law:
Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. – Deuteronomy 6:4-5
A passage like this is often used against Catholics since we speak of Tradition. There is not enough time for a thorough treatment of this subject here, but suffice it to say that Scripture also affirms the concept of Tradition:
I praise you for remembering me in everything and for holding to the traditions just as I passed them on to you. – 1 Corinthians 11:2
Catholics believe that Tradition, together with Sacred Scripture, makes up the Deposit of Faith given to the Church by Jesus Christ.
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?”
This commentary shows that Mark is writing for a Gentile audience. A Jewish audience (such as those of Matthew’s Gospel) would not need this explanation.
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.”
Jesus responds with a quotation from Isaiah in the Septuagint (LXX) version.
He summoned the crowd again and said to them, …
Jesus now gathers the crowd to teach 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.
This is radical teaching, quite unlike anything else in Judaism at the time. This teaching lays the foundation for the understanding of the Law by the Early Church and the inclusion of the Gentiles (Acts 10).
“From within people, from their hearts, …
In the Biblical context, the “heart” means the center of the person, not simply the seat of the emotions.
“…come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly. All these evils come from within and they defile.”
A list of vices is given. All these come from within a man’s heart:
Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. – Proverbs 4:23
“This is an answer to those who consider that evil thoughts are simply injected by the devil and that they do not spring from our own will. He can add strength to our bad thoughts and inflame them, but he cannot originate them” – Saint Bede The Venerable (ca. A.D. 725), Homilies On The Gospels, 2