Dear People Whom God Loves,
Worship is attacked (Amos)
The prophet Amos challenges his people: “repelling the needy at the gate…let justice prevail at the gate”. “I hate, I spurn your feasts…your cereal offerings I will not accept nor consider your stall-fed peace offerings.”
Jesus says in Matthew’s gospel, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice”.
Worship is good. To worship is to surrender to God. It is to allow Love to change us, to let go of our self-centeredness, to be transformed into the mercy and compassion that is God. That transformation will only take place if we allow Love to do it. Love even helps us to allow it. It is, after all, a gift. That is why we call it grace.
Worship as coverup Worship is a problem when we think that just performing the rituals is pleasing to God. What is pleasing to God is “mercy not sacrifice”. Worship is an occasion to celebrate that we are loved for ourselves with no strings or conditions… that almost unbelievable gift. Worship is also an occasion for that Love that is God to grow in us. That growth is always slow and imperfect, but Love is patient. It is important that we be patient with ourselves, but it is essential that we get on that spiritual path. And Love will help us onto that path.
Pagans are described as doing God’s will.
This reminds us that talking the talk does no good unless we walk the walk. The letter of James reminds us that “faith without works is dead”. When we allow the truth and Love that is God to transform us, we are changed and that change will cause us to live differently. Jesus sends us out to preach the gospel to all nations. We do that by the transformation in our lives that Love accomplishes. I see that that is what evangelization is all about. When we are just talk, it is mostly about our inflated ego. That hinders people from entering the reign of God. When Love works in us and through us, Love draws people in. People are drawn in because it is our deepest need, whether we are conscious of it or not. To love and to be loved is what we are all called to be. We are made in the image and likeness of Love. That is why nothing but Love will satisfy us and make us happy.
We might well reflect on the words of the great theologian, Fr. Karl Rahner: “Many whom God has, the church does not have; and many whom the Church has, God does not have”.
More next time.
Smile, God Loves You,
Father Clay
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