July 2, 2008 --- Faith from the HeartFrom the readings of today's liturgy, we might listen for the message from Amos, the prophet and Jesus about how a follower is called to live life.
The last part of today's http://www.usccb.org/nab may provide a clue for us as the grace we might bring to our prayer today. I believe Amos and Jesus are teaching that the life of a follower, the life of a Christian, is quite dicey at times. It is so easy to allow some external activities become our faith. Burnt offerings were the fare of the day in Old Testament times. Great solemnities marked the faith life practices of the people. Amos, speaking for Yahweh, is quite clear: "I spurn your feasts.... I take no pleasure in your solemnities." Cereal offerings and stall-fed peace offerings meant nothing. Justice and goodness were the gifts, the life that God called for as a sign of faith.
And we can ask today "What does this mean today for each of us?" Perhaps the final words of the responsorial psalm are a clue: "Why do you recite my statutes, and profess my covenant with your moth, though you hate discipline and cast my words behind you?"
The challenge put before us is a reminder that our faith, our genuine practice of faith comes from our heart ... a faith that is lived out in goodness and justice. When the people heard how Jesus had drive evil from the lives of the demoniacs, they came to seem and "begged him to leave their district." It is very easy to recite prayers, to attend a Mass, but true discipline brings with it our personal efforts to welcome Jesus into our hearts and consequently into the goodness of justice that should be the goal of our lives.
