Love of God and Religious Observances

Reflection on Today's Readings, 15th Week in Ordinary Time Year II, Monday 13th July, 2020
Texts: Is. 1:10-17; Ps. Ps. 8-9.16-17.21.23; Matt. 10:34-11:1
We cannot play pranks on God; God cannot be blindfolded. Many a time our relationship with God is that of playing pranks; we often think that we can blindfold God with our religious observances. Playing pranks on God is a kind of self-deception.
The first reading reveals how the people of Israel indulged in self-deception by playing pranks on God: They thought they could blindfold God with their sacrifices and offerings while they still indulged in sins. Their self-deception was revealed to them thus: "Bring no more  vain offerings; incense is an abomination to me. .....; they have become a burden to me, I am weary of them. When you spread forth your hands, I will hide my eyes from you;  even though you make many prayers, I will not listen; your hands are full of blood".
Religious observances become vain and empty when they do not flow from a pure and upright heart. Hence, God says, "Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your doings from before my eyes; cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; defend the fatherless, plead for the widow". Religious observances that do not breed good deeds are fake and do not win God favour.
Religious observances become fake when there is no love of God. It is the love of God that makes us to keep his commandments, for St. John says, "This is what the love of God is: keeping his commandments" (1John 5:3). The understanding of this reveals the relevance of today's gospel to the first reading: the problem of the people of Israel was the loss of the love of God in them. Hence, Jesus Christ, in today's gospel, says, "He who loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and he who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for my sake will find it". We should seek always to love God and love him sincerely by keeping his commandments. Then, out religious observances will be meaningful and productive.
Jesus reminds us that our love of him will come with separation from some close friends and relations who will be discomforted by our love of God. By our lives they will be challenged and judged; their conscience will judge them and give them no rest. Hence, they would rather fight back or change. Some will fight back and make attempt to win us back to doing evil. At this time, we have to carry our crosses and follow Jesus Christ, who had done no wrong and spoken no deceit but was insulted and did not retaliate with insults; when he was suffering he made no threats but put his trust in the upright judge (1Pet. 2:22). He also gives us assurance that there will be some people who will welcome us and they will be rewarded by their good deeds. Hence, following Jesus Christ makes us sources of Blessings to the world.

Lord Jesus Christ, inflame our hearts with your love so that we will be able to keep your commandments and carry our crosses successfully. Amen.

Fr. Andrew Olowomuke