Readings and Themes for the Week of August 30, 2009

Readings for Faith Sharing
Week of August 30, 2009,
Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time

Reading I Deuteronomy 4: 1-2, 6-8

Keep the commands of the Lord.

Psalm 15

“The one who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.”

Reading II James 1:17-18, 21b-22, 27

Be doers of the word, not hearers only.

Gospel: Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23

You ignore God’s commandment and cling to human tradition.

THEME:
Your heart must be full of faith

Today’s scriptures call us to conversion of heart. Echoing the words of Isaiah, the Lord Jesus summons us to avoid honoring God solely with our lips. We need to honor God with our hearts as well. Saint James tells us precisely how to do that in today’s second reading. We are to become, in his word, doers of the word. As the sacred word is proclaimed, let us ask for strength to honor God with our whole hearts by becoming doers of the word.

Question for Children:

What steps can you take to more humbly welcome Christ into your heart?

Question for Youth:

Jesus warns about the things that will lead us away from God.

What tempts you away from being the person that God created you to be?

Question for Adults:

Based on this reading from James, what is the sign in one’s life that faith is present?