Liturgy and Life must always go together. We should bring our life, our joys and our sorrows, our hopes and our doubts, to our liturgical celebrations. We are also called to live out what we proclaim and what we celebrate in liturgy into our daily life. Jesus ben Sira teaches this message in today’s first reading. It is not enough just to offer sacrifices and to fulfill liturgical laws and obligations. Worship of God should lead us to works of love and charity:
“In works of charity one offers fine flour, and when he gives alms, he presents his sacrifice of praise. To refrain from evil pleases the LORD, and to avoid injustice is an atonement.”
Jesus of Nazareth teaches the same message: love and worship of God must flow into love of neighbor.
“The first is this: ‘Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’” (Mark 12:29-31).
We hear this same teaching in the letter of John:
“Those who say, “I love God,” and hate their brothers or sisters, are liars; for those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen.” (1 John 4:20).
Liturgy proclaims to us that God loves us, each of us individually. Scripture teaches us that God is “rich in mercy” and seeks us out like a prodigal father or good shepherd. Let us pray and ask God to guide us to live out our liturgical celebration:
“Open our eyes to the needs of our brothers and sisters; inspire in us words and actions to comfort those who labor and are burdened. Make us serve them truly, after the example of Christ and at his command. And may your Church stand as a living witness to truth and freedom, to peace and justice, that all people may be raised up to a new hope.” (Eucharistic Prayer for Various Needs IV).