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(Dt.4:1-2,6-8;\xa0\xa0 Ps.15:1-5;\xa0\xa0 Jas.1:17-18,21b-22,27;\xa0\xa0 Mk.7:1-8,14-15,21-23)\xa0 \u201cHumbly welcome the word that has been planted in you and is able to save your souls.\u201d Welcome it, yes, and \u201cbe doers of the word and not hearers only.\u201d\xa0 For how else shall you show that the word of God is planted in you except that you bear fruit?\xa0 All that is planted well indeed grows and bears fruit in the light of God. Brothers and sisters, God \u201cwilled to give us birth by the word of truth that we may be a kind of firstfruits.\u201d\xa0 \u201cWhat great nation has statutes and decrees that are as just as this whole law?\u201d\xa0 Indeed the Law of God is whole, the Law of God is perfect \u2013 the Law of God gives life.\xa0 For this reason Moses instructs the people: \u201cYou shall not add to what I command you nor subtract from it,\u201d for the Law is holy as He, and keeping it we prove ourselves to be so holy; keeping it we cannot but \u201cgive evidence of [our] wisdom and intelligence to the nations.\u201d\xa0 Yes, with the Lord \u201cthere is no alteration or shadow caused by change.\u201d\xa0 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?\xa0 What about those over whom Isaiah prophesies: \u201cThis people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me\u201d?\xa0 Woe to these, for they have not the word of truth planted in them and so only evil things \u201ccome out from within,\u201d and thereby they are defiled.\xa0 Oh may the Lord never pronounce over our souls: \u201cIn vain do they worship me\u201d!\xa0 Oh let us never be producers of the evils of this world! \u201cEvery perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights,\u201d and he \u201cwho thinks the truth in his heart and slanders not with his tongue\u201d knows the gifts of the Creator and walks in His holy light.\xa0 No \u201cgreat nation is there that has gods so close to it as the Lord, our God, is to us whenever we call upon Him.\u201d\xa0 For His truth is indeed within us and this word comes straight to His ear.\xa0 The beat of our hearts is known to our God as we worship in spirit and in truth.\xa0 The only food that saves souls is laid upon our table.\xa0 The Word of God we consume and so are made His children, caring for \u201corphans and widows in their affliction\u201d and keeping ourselves \u201cunstained by the world.\u201d 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.\xa0 Your Law comes to our ears that we might observe your commandments and so have life.\xa0 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.\xa0 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.\xa0 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.\xa0 Let there be no room in us for greed or deceit or any of the wickedness known to man.\xa0 With our very lives let us honor you \u2013 O let us be truly wise!