Reflecting on the readings for this Sunday, I can see as the central theme: Listening to God’s Word and Living it or putting in into practice. In the first reading, Moses encourages the Israelites to listen to the commandments of Yahweh and to practice them. The psalm describes a person who walks blamelessly in the sight of the LORD because he or she has heard God’s Word and put it into practice. In the Letter of James, the author enjoins us not only to be hearers but also doers of the Word. Then in the Gospel, Jesus highlights the importance of giving more importance to what is in the heart of a person more than external observance of traditions like the ritual washing of hands before eating.

It is good to ask ourselves: do I truly listen to the Word of God? Do I put into practice or live according to God’s invitation based on the readings? How can I be a hearer and a doer of God’s Word like our Blessed Mother Mary, whose nativity we will commemorate this month of September. She is for us a model of listening to and living God’s word. Scripture tells us that she pondered God’s words in her heart. I do believe that we all struggle to live with the same attitude as that of our Blessed Mother Mary. At the annunciation, she said to the angel, “Be it done to me according to your word.” May we learn from her to also say, may it be done to us according to God’s word.

God’s word has the power to transform us. Let us listen to God’s word and allow ourselves to be transformed by the Holy Spirit, so we can become the person that God wishes us to be. When we open ourselves to God’s transforming word, we become more loving, more forgiving, more just, and more compassionate like Jesus, especially towards those in need in our community, so we can live daily in the presence of the Lord.