(Dt.4:1-2,6-8; Ps.15:1-5; Jas.1:17-18,21b-22,27; Mk.7:1-8,14-15,21-23) "Humbly welcome the word that has been planted in you and is able to save your souls." Welcome it, yes, and "be doers of the word and not hearers only." For how else shall you show that the word of God is planted in you except that you bear fruit? All that is planted well indeed grows and bears fruit in the light of God. Brothers and sisters, God "willed to give us birth by the word of truth that we may be a kind of firstfruits." "What great nation has statutes and decrees that are as just as this whole law?" Indeed the Law of God is whole, the Law of God is perfect – the Law of God gives life. For this reason Moses instructs the people: "You shall not add to what I command you nor subtract from it," for the Law is holy as He, and keeping it we prove ourselves to be so holy; keeping it we cannot but "give evidence of [our] wisdom and intelligence to the nations." Yes, with the Lord "there is no alteration or shadow caused by change." His light is perfect, and His light is eternal, and we must be children of His holy light. But what of those for whom the washing of hands has become more important than keeping the commandments of God? What about those over whom Isaiah prophesies: "This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me"? Woe to these, for they have not the word of truth planted in them and so only evil things "come out from within," and thereby they are defiled. Oh may the Lord never pronounce over our souls: "In vain do they worship me"! Oh let us never be producers of the evils of this world! "Every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights," and he "who thinks the truth in his heart and slanders not with his tongue" knows the gifts of the Creator and walks in His holy light. No "great nation is there that has gods so close to it as the Lord, our God, is to us whenever we call upon Him." For His truth is indeed within us and this word comes straight to His ear. The beat of our hearts is known to our God as we worship in spirit and in truth. The only food that saves souls is laid upon our table. The Word of God we consume and so are made His children, caring for "orphans and widows in their affliction" and keeping ourselves "unstained by the world." Written, read & chanted, and produced by James Kurt. Music: "What Is In Your Heart" from Remove the Mask of Lies, second album of Songs for Children of Light, by James Kurt. ******* O LORD, if we walk according to your Word, we shall be saved. YHWH, your Word you have planted within us and so call us to follow in your way. Your Law comes to our ears that we might observe your commandments and so have life. But if we do not welcome the Word you give, if we do not do as we are commanded, we shall be empty vessels in which corruption may find a home. O LORD, let us walk blamelessly before you, cherishing the truth in our hearts and guarding our tongues from all evil. You give us the grace to approach perfection; you are close to us when we call upon you, when you and your glory are our desire. May we be innocent of all sin, our hands clean from all defilement, and we shall be blessed all our days. Let your Word live in us and grow in us, dear God. Let there be no room in us for greed or deceit or any of the wickedness known to man. With our very lives let us honor you – O let us be truly wise!