Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
In today’s first reading from the Book of Deuteronomy, we hear Moses speaking to the Israelites about God’s law. He equates wisdom and intelligence with adherence to Divine Law, to the norms of God.
We should heed Moses’ words. In our day, many seem to think that religion, faith, or even speaking of God’s Law somehow implies superstition or lack of critical thinking. People of faith are often depicted in the media and in entertainment as gullible and simple-minded. Such elitist attitudes can lead to a spiritually dangerous pride that threatens not only individual wellbeing, but familial and societal wellbeing as well.
Moses goes on to speak of great nations as those that have laws that are just and that have faith in a God in whom they can call upon for help (Dt 4:7-8). As citizens and Christians, we should exercise our political responsibility to promote civil governance that is rooted in the natural law, in genuine justice, and that respects the truths of human dignity, responsibility, and true freedom revealed in God’s word.
The second reading from the Letter of James reminds us to “be doers of the word [of God] and not hearers only”, for to speak of God’s word, but not strive to live it, leads to self-delusion and causes scandal to those who observe us.
In the Gospel for today, Jesus, speaking to the Scribes and Pharisees reminds us that our growth in respect for God’s Law begins in our own hearts. He warns, as St. James did above, to not be hypocritical in how we conduct our lives and exhorts us not to honor God with our lips, while having our hearts far from Him.
Christians are called to embrace the truths revealed by God, truths about God, about the purpose of life, and about who we are and what God’s Law calls us to do. We are also called to live those truths and in doing so, to find true wisdom and true intelligence that will better serve us as individuals, as families and as a nation.
Sincerely yours in Christ Jesus, the Way, the Truth and the Life,
