We’ve all learned about the importance of washing our hands over this past year, haven’t we? But, it’s not a matter of religious belief but one of several important measures we all practice to combat the coronavirus. I’m sure Jesus would encourage us to wash our hands regularly, but it won’t necessarily get us closer to God; religion does that. You have probably all read or heard about one of the latest statistics regarding religion: the growing group is the “nones.” And, that’s not the women taking religious vows but the ones who, when asked about their religious affiliation, respond with “none.” Although Christianity is still strong, comprising 31% of the world’s population, and Islam retains a strong second place at 24%, the nones have recently moved ahead of Hinduism at 16%; Hinduism is at 15%.
And, if we look at the history of religion, we find many seemingly good reasons not to belong to a religion as we discover men down through the ages have been involved in violence, bigotry and intolerance, all in the name of religion. Even within our own religious tradition, we can recount the Crusades, the Inquisition and so many religious wars fought – all in the name of religion. Today, we’re still struggling with the unconscionable actions of some of our clergy – priests, bishops and even cardinals – committing terrible acts of abuse and then covering them up. But, we all know that these are not truly acts in the name of our religion but, like some of the Jewish leaders whom Jesus assailed throughout his public ministry, these men have used their power and authority for evil purposes.
So, what is the true purpose of religion? Today’s readings give us very clear answers to this question. In our first reading from the Book of Deuteronomy, we hear Moses call his people to observe the commandments of the Lord so that God will protect them and guide them and they might live and enter in and take possession of the Promised Land. In our second reading, we hear the teaching that “religion that is pure and undefiled before God is this: to care for orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained by the world.” In today’s Gospel, we hear Jesus condemn some of the Jewish leaders – some Pharisees and scribes who had come from Jerusalem to see what he was all about – because they disregarded God’s commandment but clung to human tradition and, in the process, exploited their fellow Jews. He then went on to explain that “nothing that enters one from outside can defile a person; but the things that come out from within are what defile.” He even listed what can defile us: “evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly. All these things come from within,” he explains, “and they defile.”
As I’m sure you all know, the word “religion” simply speaks of our relationship with God. And, we know how to place ourselves in a good relationship with God: by keeping his commandments. Remember, God is not pointing us to the laws; rather, his laws point us to him. And, Jesus, the Son of God, summarized God’s laws so well when he declared that we should love the Lord, our God with all our heart, with all our mind and with all our strength, and our neighbor as ourselves. That’s how we find ourselves in a good relationship with God. And, that’s what true religion leads us to do. We gather here to show our love for God as we worship the one, true God who has made us for himself and who, through his Son, has given us the means to enter the true Promised Land – heaven. And, at the end of Mass, we will be sent out “to go in peace,” and “to love and serve the Lord in one another.”
We are called to live our daily lives according to what we heard today in the second reading: “Be doers of the word and not hearers only, deluding yourselves.” We recognize that this is a challenge for each of us but, as we hear in this same reading, we are given “help from above…from the Father of lights” and “every perfect gift besides.” God has given us his law to help us in our love of him and of our neighbor. And, he has given us his Son, Jesus, who has shown us how to live in true love of him and of everyone we encounter every day.
We are here because we admit the importance of religion in our lives – to help us grow in our relationship with God and our neighbor. So, let us embrace the full gospel message, striving to live according to God’s law – and especially God’s law of love; that’s what we believe!