By Father Alonzo Q. Cox
I was ordained a transitional deacon on Dec. 8, 2009 in the chapel of the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception in Huntington, L.I. It was a day to which I had been looking forward for almost nine years. Months prior to the ordination, my classmates and I became very familiar with the ordination ceremony. With the many rehearsals that we had, we were very much ready for the big day.
For me, one of the most moving parts of a diaconate ordination ceremony is the handing on of the Book of the Gospels. The ordaining bishop has the Book of the Gospels in his hands and the new deacon kneels before him to receive it. As the bishop hands over the Book of the Gospels, he says these words, “Receive the Gospel of Christ, whose herald you now are. Believe what you read, teach what you believe and practice what you teach.”
Those were such powerful words as I was to begin ordained ministry. I was called to proclaim the Word of God, teach that Word to His people and ultimately, put it to practice in my own life.
Today’s second reading from the Letter of James speaks of the importance of the Word of God in our lives. As disciples of the Risen Lord, James is telling us to be doers of the Word, not just hearers. We must allow the Word of God, which has been planted in us, to grow so that all of us can put into practice what God has called us to be.
Evils Found Within
In today’s Gospel, the Pharisees approach Jesus and ask Him why His disciples do not properly wash their hands before meals. The Pharisees are very much aware of the law and the traditions of washing and purifying. They believe in it and of course, they have put it into practice. But I love Jesus’ response to them. He says: “Hear me, all of you, and understand. Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person; but the things that come out from within are what defile. From within people, from their hearts come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly. All these evils come from within and they defile” (Mark 7:14-15, 20-23).
Just as Jesus boldly told the crowds, He tells us that it takes more than just hearing and knowing, but we have to be doers! It’s good to know about the law and tradition, but it’s more important that we carry it out, allowing our hearts to be conformed to the heart of Christ the Lord. The Pharisees were concerned about physical defilement, but Jesus takes it even a step further by warning them of the defilement of their hearts.
The seed, that is the Word of God has been planted within us. Just as we are nourished by the precious Body and Blood of Christ, we are also sustained and nourished by the Word of God proclaimed to us each and every single Sunday.
Let us pray that by the power and working of the Holy Spirit we will forever and always be doers of the Word, believing what we read, teaching what we believe and practicing what we teach.
Readings for the 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
Deuteronomy, 4: 1-2, 6-8
Psalm 15: 2-3, 3-4, 4-5
James 1: 17-18, 21B-22, 27
Mark 7: 1-8, 14-15, 21-23
Father Alonzo Q. Cox is the pastor of St. Martin de Porres parish, Bedford-Stuyvesant, and the diocesan coordinator of ministry to African-American immigrants.