I will not listen

First Reading: Psalm: Gospel:

Amos 5:14-15, 21-24 Psalm 50:7-13, 16-17 Matthew 8:28-34

Amos 5:23  Take away from me the noise of your songs; to the melody of your harps I will not listen.

I struggle with this.  I spend a lot of time and effort studying the sacraments and trying to understand their proper place in worship.  The thought that God would reject them is troubling.  But, it makes sense.  If I am unwilling to repent and trust in him, then why should he accept them.  That would be hypocritical. 

Love, justice, mercy, and genuine thanksgiving is what he wants from us.  The sacraments are an extension of those qualities in our lives.  If we offer worship while we withhold mercy we are telling a lie to God.  We are saying that we want his grace, but we don't do what he asks.

The opposite is also true I believe.  We can't genuinely follow God if we fail to honor the sacrifice that he gives us in the Eucharist.  If we fail to honor the grace he gives us in Baptism.

Father, help me by your Holy Spirit to seek what is good, justice, mercy, and to walk humbly with you.  Help me to honor your sacraments, not by holding rigid the style, but by being faithful in following the example of your Son and my Lord Jesus Christ.

Amen