Isaiah 1:10-17 / Matthew 10:34 - 11:1
It can be said that one of the most profound expressions of our faith is in the worship.
When we are gathered in the Eucharist, we worship God and offer prayer for ourselves, for the Church and for the world.
The worship, or the liturgy, is a formalized set of rituals to help us to encounter the presence of God and to come into communion with Him.
While there are rules and guidelines for the liturgy, it is kept simple and dignified for everyone to follow and understand.
But in the first reading, the people’s sacrifice was frowned upon by the Lord.
In the Lord’s words, He said, “I am sick of the holocausts of rams and the fat of calves. The blood of bulls and goats revolts me.”
The Lord detested the sacrifices because the people’s worship was not an expression of their faith.
Their worship became like a ritual festival with solemnity, and at the same time they were committing wickedness, injustice and oppression.
So the Lord turned away and did not listen to their multiple prayers, unless they repented.
May we not treat our worship and liturgy as a sort of ritual festivity with empty solemnity.
May our worship be a true expression of our faith done with humility and simplicity.
Then the Lord our God will listen our prayers and grant us His blessings.