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Message From The Pastor...

MESSAGE FROM FATHER MIKE

The Law of God, or Code of the Covenant, is known as the Torah.  The entire legal system of the Hebrews as written by Moses.  Its first five books: the Pentateuch. The Law is different from all the others, whether Egyptian, Greek or Romans.  These require only external obedience, the rules and legislative acts,  not intentions.  They did not establish any personal bond between those who observe or ignore the law and the lawgiver.  Deuteronomy wants us to be aware of the difference. 

“If today you hear my voice, harden not your heart”

Our life is an exodus to the Promised Land, we too must walk with the Lord.  The law has empowered the people of God to confront the many tragic events of their history, without losing their souls.  The law is a sign of God’s love.  Accepting and observing it more than a matter of obedience, it is a matter of accomplishing the plan of salvation.  The law in its integrity creates life, does not suffocate it.    

James 1: 17 

Religion, according to Jesus, is the way we live, work, eat, give, take, do justice.  We can’t run for cover, we can’t set up defenses against seeing and acting.  James’ letter: There is more to religion than just moral principles. 

Hearing and doing is typical of James.  The truth of the Gospel is judged on the kind of living that the Gospel is able to produce.   

The renewal of the Church depends not so much on what I say but what I do.  The opposite of love is not hate, but indifference.  And, the one thing worse than evil is indifference to evil. I worry not so much about those who say I don’t like the parish but those who say I don’t care about the parish.

Father Mike