ANGELUS TODAY
Speaking to the faithful in Castel Gandolfo, Pope Benedict today reflected on the Law of God which has largely become, for both Jews and Christians, a mere accessory rather than the most important thing in life, as men have replaced God's Word with 'false religiosities'.
He recalls that Jesus told the Pharisees in today's Gospel, citing the prophet Isaiah: "This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; in vain do they worship me," and telling them, "You disregard God's commandment but cling to human tradition".
Here is a full translation of the Pope's Angelus reflection:
Dear brothers and sisters:
In this Sunday's Liturgy of the Word, the theme is the Law of God, his commandment: an essential element of the Jewish religion as well as of Christianity, which finds its full completion in Love (cfr Rm 13,10).
The Law of God is his Word that leads man along his journey through life, makes him free of the slavery of selfishness and introduces him to the 'land' of true freedom and of life. That is why, in the Bible, the Law is never seen as a weight, or an oppressive limitation, but as the Lord's most precious gift, the testimonial of his paternal love, of hi will be to be close to his people, of being their Ally and writing a story of love with them.
Thus, the pious Israelite prayed, "In your statutes I take delight;n will never forget your word... Lead me in the path of your commandments, for that is my delight" (Ps 119, 16,35).
In the Old testament, he who, in the name of God, conveys the Law to the people is Moses, After the long wandering in the desert, on the threshold of the Promised Land, he proclaimed: "Now therefore, Israel, hear the statutes and ordinances I am teaching you to observe, that you may live, and may enter in and take possession of the land which the LORD, the God of your ancestors, is giving you" (Dt 1,4).
Here is the problem: When people are settled and have become the repository of the Law, they are tempted to place their certainty and their joy in something which is no longer the Word of the Lord - in goods, in power, in other 'divinities' who are, in fact, vain - they are idols.
Of course, the Law of God remains, but is no longer the most important thing, no longer the rule of life - rather, it becomes an outer garment, a covering, even as man's life follows other paths, other rules, selfish interests pursued by individuals or by groups.
Thus religion loses its authentic sense which is to live while listening to God in order to do his will - which is the truth of our being - and thus, to live well, in true freedom. Instead, religion is reduced to practices of secondary importance that serve to satisfy the human need to feel oneself doing right by God.
This is a serious danger for every religion, that Jesus already encountered in his time, but which, unfortunately, can be found even in Christianity. The words of Jesus in today's Gospel to the scribes and the Pharisees should make even us reflect.
Jesus takes the words of the prophet Isaiah: “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’" (Mk 7, 6-7; cfr Is 29,13). He concludes: "You disregard God’s commandment but cling to human tradition” (Mk 7,8).
Even the Apostle James, in his Letter, warns against the danger of false religiosity. He writes Christians: "Be doers of the word and not hearers only, deluding yourselves" (Jm 1,22).
May the Virgin Mary, whom we now address in prayer, help us listen with an open and sincere heart to the Word of God so that he may guide our thoughts, our decisions and our actions every day.
In English, he said:
I greet all the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors present for this Angelus. The Gospel of today’s liturgy spurs all of us to a greater harmony between the faith we treasure in our hearts and our outward behaviour. By God’s grace, may we be purified inside and out, so as to live integrally our commitment to Christ and to his message. God bless all of you!.
