From the Deacon’s Desk: Prayer and Inspirational Thoughts
August 29 – Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time
“The people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me!…You disregard God’s commandments but cling to human tradition.” Our readings this week speak to us about our response to God’s law. It is not enough that we know His laws for us and agree to obey them. But we must know and embrace His intent, accepting it as our own. His greatest law is to love God and love one another as God loves us. We are cautioned not to follow human laws and traditions, ignoring God’s will for our lives. We must humbly welcome His Word, embracing it as our own to save our souls. The Letter of James tells us “be doers of the Word, not hearers only, deluding yourselves.” When we do anything less than fully embrace the Word – God’s will – we deny truth and honesty in our hearing and our doing. God calls us to embrace the simplicity of the Truth of His Word.
As Vincentians, we do this in the very work we do with those in need. When we sacrifice of our time and treasures that others might see God’s love and hope, we honor God by doing justice and we live in His presence. When we set aside our agendas and needs that we might address those of others, we offer ourselves to God’s will in humility. When we hold each other accountable – Vincentians and neighbors alike – in all we do, we bring the simplicity of God’s truth to one another. In this way, we embrace His Word and become accountable to Him in both our minds and our hearts. How do I always honor God with both my words and my heart? How do I bring the truth of his will to those I minister to? How do I make His intent mine, and His Truth my truth?
Lord Jesus, give me a heart of total acceptance. Let humility become my robe of daily living. Allow me to seek nothing but your will in all things – even when they are hard. Help me to embrace your Truth through the simplicity of honest relationships. Help me to not delude myself and to be accountable to those around me for both my actions and my words Grant that I may do justice and live in your presence at all times. We pray all of this in your name. Amen
Deacon Mike