Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time.
This weekend the theme of the readings leads us to consider “words spoken in truth” and if one were willing to let his or her mind wander during this political season it could make you more than chuckle as we are inundated with all these political ads of late. God has a great sense of humor.
The readings offer to us three considerations about “words spoken in truth”: first, the words of the covenant, second the truth in religious practices, and third the word that has taken root in us.
The words of the covenant are words of truth since they are the reliable revelation of God. Certainly they are demands but they are not burdensome—rather they lead to righteous living as they are the cause of life and blessings. In disobedience to God’s word, the opposite is true.

It must be noted that the words themselves do not constitute the covenant but it is the relationship with God that makes the covenant come into being; thus fidelity to the “law” or the word is more than just rigid conformity, it comes from something deeper within us—a relationship lived out well. Truth in religious practices: we are all born into religious practices (customs or rituals) and we do them even when we don’t believe in them or care about them, even when they have no real meaning for us. How many folks know why we sit or stand or kneel at particular times in the Mass? How many really care? But religious practices contain a certain truth to them which resonates with us when we truly understand their meaning—then they become genuine expressions of our faith. They have real meaning and purpose. The word that has taken root in us becomes a true religious practice when it has meaning for us—when it takes root in us. They can take root in us from our study of them, or use of them or even from the example of good people around us. And when it does take root in us, our “inner eye” opens us, our heart opens up and we begin a distinct connection with God…like the sunflower that turns toward the sun, its source of nourishment, we turn instinctively toward God because we are filled with the power of God.