No justice, no prayer

We cannot pray our way to heaven.

We need God’s grace: the grace of faith – a faith that manifests itself not just in fidelity to the truth, but in charity and justice.

This is the message of today’s first reading (Amos 5:14-15, 21-24):

I hate, I spurn your feasts, says the LORD,
I take no pleasure in your solemnities;
Your cereal offerings I will not accept,
nor consider your stall-fed peace offerings.
Away with your noisy songs!
I will not listen to the melodies of your harps.

But if you would offer me burnt offerings,
then let justice surge like water,
and goodness like an unfailing stream.

We may put great effort into our prayer and great skill in our worship, but without grace, without faith, and without justice, we fall short.

Seek good and not evil,
that you may live;
Then truly will the LORD, the God of hosts,
be with you as you claim!

Lord Jesus Christ, son of the living God, be merciful to me – a sinner.