This morning Paul tells the Galatians (GAL 5:1-6) that following the law and getting circumcised does not automatically make them closer to God. Paul tells them “For in Christ Jesus, neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love.”
Likewise in Luke’s Gospel (LK 11:37-41) Jesus has dinner with a Pharisee who is taken aback when Jesus does not do the accustomed washing before eating. Jesus tells the Pharisee “although you cleanse the outside of the cup and the dish, inside you are filled with plunder and evil.”
These two stories tell us that God knows our heart. He will know if we do something that is supposed to be a tribute to Him but in our hearts we are not genuine. I think in both cases in today’s readings the “acts of tribute” were being done because “everyone else was doing it.”
Following the crowd can be dangerous. Use your heart as your guide. Usually if something feels right then it is right.
GVW4U 