Reflection
This people honors me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me;
in vain do they worship me,
teaching as doctrines human precepts.
Isaiah 29:13
Isaiah puts these words on the lips of God. Isn’t it an indictment of so many of us personally and in the public arena? It is easy to “honor” God with our words. We begin political events with an invocation, we hold church services, we say grace before meals and so forth. But, how does this carry over in action? Jesus used strong words for those who “honored “ God with their lips but not their actions. He called them hypocrites. Then, he told them what to do to truly honor God. “Love one another as I have loved you.”
Prayer
May I act justly, love tenderly and walk humbly.
Action
Reflect on Isaiah 29:13. What does this mean “teaching as doctrines human precepts”? What did Jesus mean when he said “You disregard God’s commandment but cling to human tradition”? Where do you see it in the public, political, and church arenas? How does it apply to you? What can you do?
Suggested Reading
So the Pharisees and scribes questioned him,
“Why do your disciples not follow the tradition of the elders
but instead eat a meal with unclean hands?”
He responded,
“Well did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites, as it is written:
This people honors me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me;
in vain do they worship me,
teaching as doctrines human precepts.
You disregard God’s commandment but cling to human tradition.”
Matthew 7:14
Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.
John 3:18
Those who listen to us and observe us must be able to see in our actions what they hear from our lips, and so give glory to God!
Pope Francis
All know the way; few actually walk it.
Bodhidharma
Always aim at complete harmony of thought and word and deed. Always aim at purifying your thoughts and everything will be well.
Mahatma Gandhi
Better do a good deed near at home than go far away to burn incense.
Amelia Earhart
The last temptation is the greatest treason: to do the right deed for the wrong reason.
T. S. Eliot
A hypocrite wants to impress others with an external façade of religious piety that he knows is devoid of internal spiritual substance.
Sam Storms
Go put your creed into your deed.
Ralph Waldo Emerson
It is easier to fight for one’s principles than to live up to them.
Alfred Adler
He does not believe that does not live according to his belief.
Sigmund Freud
The greatest way to live with honor in this world is to be what we pretend to be.
Socrates
One should examine oneself for a very long time before thinking of condemning others.
Moliere