22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

            Today St. James tells us—“Be doers of the word and not hearers only.”  St. James encourages us to first hear God’s Word and then do it.

            How do we hear God’s Word?  We do so preeminently here at Mass when we listen to the readings and enter into the prayers which are all based on Scripture.  We do so when we take quiet moments in our day to listen to God speak to our heart and soul.  We do so when we pick up our Bibles and read.  You know, we can be guaranteed to hear God’s Word every day of our lives by simply opening up the Scriptures.  And I’m not talking about reading 15 chapters at a time, but a verse, section or chapter.

            After hearing God’s Word we must live it out.  It’s kind of like an athlete.  You athletes know, as do your parents who run you around to practices and games, how much time, energy and effort is put into sports.  When you go to practice, especially in a team sport, you go to be with your teammates and coach.  Your coach teaches you about the game and how to execute plays and strategies successfully.  And every athlete knows what happens if, after a week’s worth of practice, the game plan is not followed or put into practice.  This athlete, as they say, gets to sit on the pine.

            Doing God’s Word looks different for different people.  For those of you returning to school you follow God by doing your best in school, athletics and the arts.  You do so by being obedient and respectful to your parents, teachers and coaches.  For parents, heeding God’s Word includes being faithful to your spouse, being good examples to your children in the faith and striving to be faithful citizens in our society.  And for you grandparents and great-grandparents, you follow God’s Word by spoiling your grandkids rotten and by giving them candy and Mountain Dew.

            As we come to receive Eucharist this morning, pray that God will give you the grace to hear His Word and do it today.  And more importantly, tomorrow.