November 2nd - Reflection

Matthew 15:1-9 (NRSV)
Lips that misrepresent the heart
Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, "Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands before they eat." He answered them, "And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? For God said, 'Honor your father and your mother,' and, 'Whoever speaks evil of father or mother must surely die.' But you say that whoever tells father or mother, 'Whatever support you might have had from me is given to God,' then that person need not honor the father. So, for the sake of your tradition, you make void the word of God. You hypocrites! Isaiah prophesied rightly about you when he said:

'This people honors me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me;
in vain do they worship me,
teaching human precepts as doctrines.' "

Reflection
We tend to take it and bend it around and rationalize it until it comes out that we are always in the right and doing what needs to be done. Humans are very cleaver in attempts to prevent losing any face in a situation.

Here Jesus approaches us with just this thought. It's not how cleaver our explanation is about what we need to change that we don't wish to change. It's about the results of the change that if made can bring.

Will our lips and the words we speak be demonstrated by our actions? If we have faith in Jesus, our actions will follow. If we believe, will we worship with a heart that has all intentions to act out the worship that we proclaim. Are we real or are we fake? Are we disciples of Christ ready to walk the path or just some people ready to wear a tiny silver cross around our neck and under the shirt?

May the heart of Christ within each of us lead us to action in the Word. Thanks be to God!

Prayer
Lord, as I follow you help me to understand the times when you make it real. Help me to understand those things I need to do to follow up on your teachings. Help me to love others as I love you... today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen