Isaiah 1:10, 16-20 / Matthew 23:1-12
The saying that “practice makes perfect” is a good motto for improvement and achievement.
It also means that consistency and perseverance will eventually bear results.
Certainly, when it comes to skills and other abilities, then constant practice will develop to perfection.
While it is a good motto to adopt in many areas of life, it needs to be understood correctly in the spiritual life.
Whether in worship or prayer or in works of charity, there is no need for perfection.
The danger of perfection can be limited to just function or achievement.
And it can lead to the erosion of devotion and even reverence.
In the 1st reading, the Lord tells His people to wash, to make themselves clean and to take their wrong-doing out of His sight.
God tells them to get the basics right, and that is to cease to do evil, to learn to do good, to search for justice, to help the oppressed, to be just to the orphan and to plead for the widow.
The people may get all the rituals right and prayers said correctly, and keep to the letter of the law.
But the reality of their lives is not connected with their worship and prayer.
We are reminded in the 1st reading, as well as in the gospel, that the spiritual life is not about external perfection or even to gain the attention of others.
Our worship and our prayer should lead us to the obedience of God’s will.
It is in obedience to God’s will that we will understand what is salvation.