The word of God this Sunday invites us to reflect on the ways of living faith and relationship with God. One way of living our faith can be from the outside, in compliance with external norms, customs or traditions that govern and guide religious practices. The other way is from the deepest convictions, those that spring from the heart, and that can even contradict the external way of expressing and living the faith.
In the book of Deuteronomy, we see how Moses commits the people of God to live according to the law, the commandments of God. Thus, they will correspond to the generosity of God, who freed them from slavery and brought them to the land of Canaan to live there.
In the letter of James, we also find this exhortation to all Christians: “Humbly welcome the word that has been planted in you and is able to save your souls. Be doers of the word and not hearers only, deluding yourselves." That is, faith does not consist only in knowing the commandments of God, but in practicing them. Nor is it enough to adhere to external norms or religious traditions if these practices are not accompanied by the sincerity that springs from the heart; it is useless to be compliant with the law and traditions if they are not translated into concrete actions for the good of the community and the brothers.
Comments