Hear the Word! by Bill Ayres: Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
“A reading from the Book of Deuteronomy
(Chapter 4:1-2, 6-8)
This is an important moment in the history of Israel. God establishes a Covenant with the people through Moses and gives them the Law which was not a purely external, juridical thing but rather was meant to be in their hearts. Moses warns the people on the Lord’s behalf, “you shall not add to what I command you nor subtract from it.” But by the time of Jesus, there were so many add-ons to the Law that Jesus challenged religious leaders for placing a yoke on the shoulders of the people that God never intended. In contrast, Jesus said, “my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” For the past fifty years, the Church has moved slowly away from rules, such as abstinence from meat on Fridays, so as to focus our attention more on the basic message of Jesus: Love God and one another, and believe in the reign of God that Jesus came to make present.
Responsorial Psalm
(Psalm 15:2-3, 3-4, 4-5)
The one who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.” Injustice has been present in every society, and it is present today in our own country. There are always those who oppress and cheat others. We are called to live justly and speak up for those who are oppressed and treated unjustly.
A reading from the Letter of James
(Chapter 1:17-18, 21b-22, 27)
James has a strong, challenging message. “Be doers of the word and not hearers only, deluding yourselves.” It is not enough to only hear God’s word. We must act on it. How? He tells us: “Religion that is pure and undefiled is this: to care for orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained by the world.” Widows and orphans were often the poorest people in society and so needed special care. They represented others who were also poor and who also suffered physical, emotional, or mental illnesses. The early Christian community kept to this calling, and most of our churches do today, individually and collectively. It is the responsibility of the Christian community and each of us to leave no one behind.
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark
(Chapter 7:1-8, 15-15, 21-23)
At the time of Jesus, there were some 613 commands in Jewish religious law, most of which were not in the Torah or Law that God gave to Moses. Several of these commands had to do not so much with cleanliness but with ritual purity. Jesus and his disciples did not observe all these burdensome commands, and that was one of many reasons that the Scribes and Pharisees wanted Jesus gone. He challenged the burdensome authority that they exercised on people. Jesus argued that “Nothing that enters one from outside can defile the person, but the things that come out from within are what defile.” Then he mentions several things that come from within a person that defile: “evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, and folly.” It sounds like a list from today’s tabloids, but we can become so used to it that we take it for granted or rail against it to no effect. The message of Jesus is love, accepting his gift of unconditional love, living it in our lives, and standing up for justice, especially for the poor and oppressed, and seeking God’s mercy as well as showing mercy to others.
Excerpts from the English translation of the Lectionary for Mass © 1969, 1981, 1997, International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation (ICEL). All rights reserved.
Bill Ayres was a founder, with the late singer Harry Chapin, of WhyHunger. He has been a radio and TV broadcaster for 40 years and has two weekly Sunday-night shows on WPLJ, 95.5 FM in New York. He is a member of Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Church in Centerport, New York.
Subscribe
Topics
- RENEW International (233)
- Sharon Krause (185)
- Reflections on the coming Sunday's Gospel (88)
- prayer (61)
- Jesus Christ (60)
- Hear the Word! by Bill Ayres (42)
- Bill Ayres (40)
- catholic program renew (33)
- prayer life (31)
- Lent (26)
- catholic renew progam (24)
- renew catholic program (22)
- Advent (19)
- Indwelling of the Holy Spirit (19)
- Christmas (17)
- God's love (17)
- catholic RENEW program (17)
- a reflection on the coming Sunday's Gospel (15)
- The Everyday Gospel: Deacon Charles Paolino (13)
- COVID (12)
- Lenten season (12)
- gratitude (12)
- pandemic (12)
- Holy Spirit (11)
- John the Baptist (11)
- Sunday readings (10)
- Good News (9)
- everyday prayer (9)
- Gratitude to God (8)
- Scripture (8)
- daily prayer (8)
- forgiveness (8)
- Gospel According to Matthew (7)
- Jesus Christ the King (7)
- resurrection (7)
- Catholic social teaching (6)
- God's gifts (6)
- justice (6)
- praying (6)
- renewing our faith (6)
- spiritual life (6)
- Advent prayer (5)
- Dignity and the Death Penalty (5)
- Easter (5)
- Gifts of the Holy Spirit (5)
- Marian devotion (5)
- RENEW prayers (5)
- hope (5)
- spontaneous prayer (5)
- trust in God (5)
- virus (5)
- Advent journey (4)
- Book of the Prophet Isaiah (4)
- Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time (4)
- Fifth Sunday of Lent (4)
- First Sunday of Advent (4)
- Fourth Sunday in Lent (4)
- Gospel According to Mark (4)
- Holy Trinity (4)
- New Year (4)
- Ordinary Time (4)
- Palm Sunday (4)
- Psalm 23 (4)
- Second Sunday of Advent (4)
- Second Sunday of Lent (4)
- St. Joseph (4)
- The Holy Spirit accompanies us (4)
- The Resurrection of the Lord (4)
- Third Sunday of Lent (4)
- care for those in poverty (4)
- celebration of the Eucharist (4)
- creation (4)
- death penalty (4)
- first sunday of Lent (4)
- mercy (4)
- rosary (4)
- scripture readings (4)
- season of preparation (4)
- suffering servant (4)
- third sunday in ordinary time (4)
- time of anticipation (4)
- Awaken to the Spirit (3)
- Babylonian Exile (3)
- Book of Wisdom (3)
- Christmas season (3)
- Christmas shopping (3)
- Church (3)
- Crucifxion (3)
- Dying to new life (3)
- God's call (3)
- God's forgiveness (3)
- Good Shepherd (3)
- Gospel according to John (3)
- Jesus walks on water (3)
- Lenten journey (3)
- Letter of St. Paul to the Thessalonians (3)
- New Covenant (3)
- Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time (3)
- Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time (3)
- Sunday Mass (3)
- The Ascension (3)
- The Good Shepherd (3)
- The Gospel (3)
- beatitudes (3)
- body and blood of Christ (3)
- counting our blessings (3)
- dignity of each person (3)
- disciples (3)
- epiphany (3)
- evangelization (3)
- feast of pentecost (3)
- fourth sunday in ordinary time (3)
- gifts from God (3)
- give thanks to God (3)
- good deeds (3)
- humility (3)
- joy (3)
- kindness (3)
- open to the Holy Spirit (3)
- patience (3)
- personal reflection (3)
- pray (3)
- priorities (3)
- recreate yourself this New Year (3)
- repentance (3)
- say yes to God's will (3)
- sharing our gifts (3)
- sins (3)
- thanksgiving (3)
- welcome (3)
- 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time (2)
- 28th Sunday in Ordinary Time (2)
- Abba (2)
- Assumption of Mary (2)
- Bible (2)
- Christ the King (2)
- Christian discipleship (2)
- Easter Season (2)
- Easter joy (2)
- Easter season of rebirth (2)
- Emmanuel (2)
- Eucharist (2)
- Feast of the Holy Family (2)
- Feast of the Presentation of the Lord (2)
- Feeding the hungry (2)
- Fifth Sunday of Easter (2)
- God is love (2)
- God who loves you (2)
- God with us (2)
- God's blessings (2)
- God's mercy (2)
- God's presence (2)
- Gospel according to Luke (2)
- Holy Communion (2)
- Jesus (2)
- Jesus as teacher (2)
- Jesus healing (2)
- Love your neighbor as yourself (2)
- Magnificat (2)
- Mary (2)
- Mary and Joseph (2)
- Mary's House (2)
- Nativity of the Lord (2)
- Questions and Answers (2)
- Rely on Jesus (2)
- Seventh Sunday of Easter (2)
- Sixth Sunday of Easter (2)
- Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord (2)
- Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity (2)
- Spirit of love (2)
- St John the Baptist (2)
- Suffering Messiah (2)
- The Rosary (2)
- Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time (2)
- Virgin Mary (2)
- You shall love the Lord your God (2)
- attitude of gratitude (2)
- authority of Jesus (2)
- baptism (2)
- birth of our Savior (2)
- bread of life (2)
- centering prayer (2)
- covid-19 (2)
- crèche (2)
- decorations (2)
- divinity of Jesus (2)
- doubting Thomas (2)
- eternal life (2)
- every knee shall bend (2)
- faith in Jesus (2)
- faithful (2)
- fourth sunday of advent (2)
- gift of faith (2)
- good works (2)
- gratefulness (2)
- greatest commandment (2)
- growing in faith (2)
- having faith (2)
- holding grudges (2)
- holiness (2)
- holy spirit at work (2)
- hope in God (2)
- hope in the Lord (2)
- inclusion (2)
- insight (2)
- kingdom of God (2)
- listening to God (2)
- love of neighbor (2)
- magi (2)
- meditation (2)
- mental incompetence (2)
- mission (2)
- optimism (2)
- parables (2)
- peace (2)
- penance (2)
- praise God (2)
- pray for peace (2)
- prayer of thanksgiving (2)
- prayers of gratitude (2)
- prepare for Christmas (2)
- raising of Lazarus (2)
- reconciliation (2)
- repent and believe in the gospel (2)
- resurrection in our lives (2)
- road to Emmaus (2)
- sabbath (2)
- savior (2)
- saying grace (2)
- second coming of Christ (2)
- second sunday in ordinary time (2)
- servant leadership (2)
- share your faith (2)
- small faith sharing groups (2)
- social justice (2)
- solemnity of the most holy body and blood of chris (2)
- something new (2)
- spend time with God (2)
- spirit of the lord (2)
- spiritual grouth (2)
- spiritual renewal (2)
- spirituality (2)
- spreading good news (2)
- temptation (2)
- thanking God (2)
- the examined life (2)
- third sunday of advent (2)
- thoughtfulness (2)
- trust in the Lord (2)
- use your gifts (2)
- vineyard of the Lord (2)
- wedding garment (2)
- wisdom (2)
- woman at the well (2)
- words (2)
- 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time (1)
- 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time (1)
- 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time (1)
- 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time (1)
- 2021 (1)
- 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (1)
- 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time (1)
- 24th Sunday in Ordinary Time (1)
- 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time (1)
- 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time (1)
- 27th Sunday in Ordinary Time (1)
- 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time (1)
- 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (1)
- 3rd Sunday of Advent (1)
- 4th Sunday of Advent (1)
- Acts of love (1)
- Adam and Eve (1)
- Advent Wreath (1)
- Advent calendar (1)
- Annunciation (1)
- Apostle Andrew (1)
- Ascension (1)
- Ash Wednesday (1)
- Autumn (1)
- Awake (1)
- Baptism of Our Lord (1)
- Baptism of the Lord (1)
- Be awake (1)
- Be still (1)
- Be watchful (1)
- Behold (1)
- Benedictine nun (1)
- Birth of John the Baptist (1)
- Blessed Mother (1)
- Blessed Trinity (1)
- Blessed Virgin Mary (1)
- Body of Christ (1)
- Book of Judges (1)
- Book of Kings (1)
- Book of Proverbs (1)
- Book of the Prophet Amos (1)
- Book of the Prophet Ezekiel (1)
- Catechism (1)
- Catholic (1)
- Catholic Faith (1)
- Catholic education (1)
- Charity (1)
- Charles Paolino (1)
- Children's Easter story (1)
- Christ child (1)
- Christ's love (1)
- Christian unity (1)
- Christian witness (1)
- Christmas Day (1)
- Christmas Star (1)
- Christmas carols (1)
- Christmas pageant (1)
- Covenant with Israel (1)
- Creation at the Crossroads (1)
- Creator God (1)
- Diocese of Brooklyn (1)
- Divine Office (1)
- Easter Sunday (1)
- Elijah (1)
- Father Son and Holy Spirit (1)
- Feast of the Baptism of the Lord (1)
- First Book of Samuel (1)
- First Commandment (1)
- First letter of Saint John (1)
- Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (1)
- Fourth Sunday of Easter (1)
- Genesis (1)
- Gentiles (1)
- God forgives (1)
- God full of love (1)
- God is our help (1)
- God is with us (1)
- God works in mysterious ways (1)
- God's generosity (1)
- God's guidance (1)
- God's healing (1)
- God's plan (1)
- God's unconditional love for all (1)
- God's voice (1)
- Gospel of John (1)
- Gospel of Mark (1)
- Hail Holy Queen (1)
- Haitian Creole (1)
- Holy Eucharist (1)
- Holy Week (1)
- HolySpirit (1)
- I am the light of the world (1)
- Immaculate Conception (1)
- In God We Trust (1)
- In the beginning was the Word (1)
- Inspired by the Holy Spirit (1)
- Jesus Christ is born (1)
- Jesus as high priest (1)
- Jesus feeds the multitude (1)
- Jesus forgives (1)
- Jesus heals (1)
- Jesus loves us (1)
- Jesus' call (1)
- Jesus' love (1)
- Jesus’ Resurrection (1)
- Jews (1)
- Jonah (1)
- Joseph Mohr (1)
- Last Supper (1)
- Laudato Si" (1)
- Laura DePalma (1)
- Lent prayer (1)
- Lenticular printing (1)
- Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians (1)
- Letter of St. Paul to the Philippians (1)
- Letter to the Hebrews (1)
- Marian Prayer (1)
- Martha and Mary (1)
- Mary Magdalene (1)
- Mary mother of God (1)
- Mary's intercession (1)
- Matthew 25 Christians (1)
- Meaning of Christmas (1)
- Meet Mary in Prayer (1)
- Messiah (1)
- Moses (1)
- Nativity (1)
- Nativity scene (1)
- Natvity set (1)
- Nearness of God (1)
- Noah (1)
- Oh My God (1)
- Passion of Our Lord (1)
- Pentecost (1)
- Poor Richard's Almanac (1)
- Power of the Holy Spirit (1)
- Prediction of the Passion (1)
- Prepare (1)
- Prophet Ezekiel (1)
- Prophet Jeremiah (1)
- Psalm 100 (1)
- Psalm 138 (1)
- Psalm 139 (1)
- Psalm 146 (1)
- Psalm 24 (1)
- Psalm 34 (1)
- Psalm 63 (1)
- Psalm 80 (1)
- Psalm 85 (1)
- Rejoice and Be Glad (1)
- Sadducees (1)
- Saint Blaise (1)
- Saint Jerome Emiliani (1)
- Saint Peter (1)
- Savior of the world (1)
- Scriptures (1)
- Second Letter of St. Peter (1)
- Second Sunday of Easter (1)
- Sign of the Cross (1)
- Silent Night (1)
- Sleeplessness (1)
- Small-Group Ministry (1)
- Solemnity of All Saints (1)
- Son of God (1)
- Special Rosaries (1)
- Sr. Helen Prejean (1)
- St. Callistus I (1)
- St. Damien (1)
- St. Gertrude (1)
- St. Hippolytus (1)
- St. Therese of Lisieux (1)
- St. Thomas (1)
- St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus (1)
- St. patrick (1)
- Star of Bethlehem (1)
- Sunday (1)
- Sunday Gospel (1)
- Sunday Matters (1)
- Temptation of Christ (1)
- Thanksgiving parade (1)
- The Apostles (1)
- The Boy Jesus (1)
- The Gift of Faith (1)
- The Lord is my rock (1)
- The Lord's Day (1)
- The Lord's Prayer (1)
- The Memorare (1)
- The Passion of the Lord (1)
- The Prophet Job (1)
- The Word became flesh (1)
- The golden rule (1)
- The holy name (1)
- The kingdom of God is at hand (1)
- The risen Jesus (1)
- Third Sunday of Easter (1)
- Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time (1)
- Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time (1)
- War in Ukraine (1)
- Wedding Feast (1)
- What would Jesus do (1)
- Word of God (1)
- Zacchaeus (1)
- Zaccheus (1)
- Zoom (1)
- abundant life (1)
- acceptance (1)
- accessible (1)
- adoration (1)
- agapé (1)
- angels (1)
- anxiety (1)
- apostle Peter (1)
- applying Scripture to your life (1)
- appreciation (1)
- ark (1)
- artist creator (1)
- attentiveness (1)
- authentic discipleship (1)
- autumn leaves (1)
- autumn prayer (1)
- awareness (1)
- baby Jesus (1)
- be less judgmental (1)
- being a disciple (1)
- being positive (1)
- bible study (1)
- blessed (1)
- blessing of throats (1)
- bread from heaven (1)
- call to discipleship (1)
- called to follow (1)
- campaign (1)
- census tax (1)
- choices (1)
- close encounter (1)
- clothe the naked (1)
- comfort and joy (1)
- comfort the sick (1)
- communion of saints (1)
- compassion (1)
- confession (1)
- confirmation sponsor (1)
- connecting faith and life (1)
- courage (1)
- crib (1)
- crucifixion (1)
- despair (1)
- devotion to Saints (1)
- disciples of Jesus (1)
- discipleship (1)
- distractions from prayer (1)
- divine help (1)
- divine intervention (1)
- divine mercy (1)
- divine providence (1)
- divorce (1)
- do not be afraid (1)
- driving responsibly (1)
- election (1)
- encounter Jesus (1)
- end of liturgical year (1)
- epiphany of the Lord (1)
- evangelize by witness (1)
- examining conscience (1)
- experience god's presence (1)
- faith sharing group (1)
- false prophets (1)
- fasting (1)
- fear not (1)
- feast of unity (1)
- feed the hungry (1)
- first letter of saint paul to the corinthians (1)
- fog (1)
- follow Jesus (1)
- follow the gospel (1)
- following the way of the cross (1)
- generosity (1)
- gift of God (1)
- gift wrapping (1)
- give glory (1)
- glory (1)
- glory to god (1)
- go in peace (1)
- godparents (1)
- good Samaritan (1)
- good christian lives (1)
- good will (1)
- gospel challenges (1)
- greatest gift (1)
- growing in love (1)
- hallowed be thy name (1)
- handy (1)
- healing of the blind man (1)
- hearts and minds (1)
- his people on earth (1)
- holiday (1)
- hope and promise (1)
- house of the Lord (1)
- human dignity (1)
- humanity and divinity of Christ (1)
- humble life (1)
- imitating Jesus (1)
- inner peace (1)
- insomnia (1)
- intercessory prayer (1)
- interior life (1)
- intimacy with Christ (1)
- introspection (1)
- invitation (1)
- joy and wonder of the resurrection (1)
- lamb of God (1)
- least of them (1)
- life in christ (1)
- like a thief at night (1)
- love of God (1)
- love of self (1)
- love one another (1)
- love one another as I love you (1)
- love your neighbor (1)
- lullaby (1)
- magician (1)
- magnificence of God's love (1)
- man born blind (1)
- marriage (1)
- maturing in faith (1)
- meek and humble of heart (1)
- mental health (1)
- messages (1)
- messengers of God's love (1)
- mind and body (1)
- minister with humility (1)
- multiplication of the loaves and fishes (1)
- need prayer and reflection (1)
- new beginnings (1)
- new perspectives (1)
- night prayer (1)
- nourishing the soul (1)
- online community (1)
- online small groups (1)
- openness (1)
- pandemic lessons (1)
- parable (1)
- parable of the 10 virgins (1)
- parable of the hidden treasure (1)
- parable of the pearl (1)
- parable of the talents (1)
- parable of the tax collector and the Pharisee (1)
- parable of the two sons (1)
- parable of the wicked tenants (1)
- peace be with you (1)
- peace of mind (1)
- persecution (1)
- persist in prayer (1)
- pillar of cloud (1)
- power of the Spirit (1)
- pray together (1)
- prayer of gratitude (1)
- praying with a psalm (1)
- prepare for Easter (1)
- prepare the way of the Lord (1)
- problem solving (1)
- procrastination (1)
- promise of new life (1)
- prostitutes (1)
- psalm 131 (1)
- psalms (1)
- reach out to others in mercy and love (1)
- real presence of Christ (1)
- rebrand (1)
- receive the Holy Spirit (1)
- reflect on God's presence (1)
- reflection (1)
- rejoice (1)
- remembering (1)
- render unto caesar (1)
- renew our faith (1)
- respond "yes" to God's call (1)
- respond to the call (1)
- restraint (1)
- retreat (1)
- rote learning (1)
- sacrament of baptism (1)
- sacrament of reconciliation (1)
- salt of the earth (1)
- salvation is through Jesus (1)
- seek the Lord (1)
- self control (1)
- self-awareness (1)
- self-sacrifice (1)
- sense of hope (1)
- serenity (1)
- service (1)
- serving others (1)
- seventy seven times (1)
- share love of Christ (1)
- sharing your faith (1)
- silence (1)
- silent prayer (1)
- sinfulness (1)
- sins of the world (1)
- sleep (1)
- slogans (1)
- slow down (1)
- social distancing (1)
- solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord (1)
- son of Mary (1)
- spend time with Jesus (1)
- spiritual reading (1)
- spread the Gospel (1)
- starting fresh (1)
- stations (1)
- status of women (1)
- stay awake (1)
- stress (1)
- suffering (1)
- take time to pray (1)
- talents (1)
- tax collectors (1)
- teaching children about God (1)
- the common good (1)
- the elect (1)
- the just one (1)
- the miraculous catch of fish (1)
- the people's prayer book (1)
- the prophet Jonah (1)
- the stone the builders rejected (1)
- thinking (1)
- thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (1)
- thirtieth Sunday of Ordinary Time (1)
- three kings (1)
- three meditations (1)
- to serve God (1)
- transfiguration (1)
- transfiguration of the Lord (1)
- treasure the faith (1)
- treatment of women (1)
- trimmings (1)
- true wisdom (1)
- trust in God's mercy (1)
- universal Church (1)
- unlocking our potential (1)
- use time well (1)
- using your talents to serve god (1)
- virtual (1)
- voice crying out in the desert (1)
- we remember (1)
- wedding feast at Cana (1)
- welcome the stranger (1)
- whatever you did for the least of brothers of mine (1)
- when the saints go marching in (1)
- widow's mite (1)
- widows and orphans (1)
- wild turkeys (1)
- witness (1)
- witness to matrimony (1)
- witness to the baptism (1)
- woman found in adultery (1)
- women in the Church (1)
- wonder of creation (1)
- workers in the vineyard (1)
- worry closet (1)
- worthy wife (1)
Share a Comment