CALL FOR HELP . . . On 22nd ordinary Sunday, we have a Sunday's familiar opening call for help: "All day long, have mercy . . . You are good and forgiving, full of love . . . " How that Psalmist did pray! Week in, week out we start the mass with this near-agonized plea which reminds us of the trouble we are in. We need help, the liturgy keeps telling us, even those of us who have it made or think so.

ON PICKING AND CHOOSING . . . In Deuteronomy 4, Moses says do not be selective about what God commands. Neither add to nor subtract from it. Some would add things, crushing us. Some would subtract, unwisely relieving us. Neither is much help. Let "the nations" -- "gentes," as in "gentiles," that is, non-Jews -- learn wisdom from your behavior. Thus the Deuteronomist.

We are to follow with the Psalmist telling us, Do justice and live in God's presence. This we are repeat several times as we consider specifics: We are to think the truth, slander not, neither harm people nor bawl them out, lend not at excessive rate, and take no bribes -- even if we come from a culture where it's taken for granted, like the political, as in Chicago at various times.

GET MOVING . . . Then James piles on, as it were (in his chap. 1), urging to to take to heart what the Father tells us. Act on it. It's not enough to listen. Look after orphans and widows (the defenseless) in their distress and keep yourself unspotted by the world (in its numerous manifestations, we have to figure this out). (Only) in this way you might worship "without stain."

PLAIN TALK HELPS . . . Finally, Mark asks us in his chap. 7 if we wash our hands before eating, which is a good idea, we may say. But under pain of sin? Pharisees are the fall guys here. But it's a common fault. We make too much of certain good things, losing sight of the big picture, insisting on recycling, for instance, as if there's always a tomorrow. Problem, says Jesus, is teaching "as dogmas mere human precepts." He adds, it's not what you eat (we assume excluding gluttony) but what you say that condemns you: "Wicked designs come from the deep recesses of the heart."

He lists a few of these wicked designs, among them "fornication, theft, murder," including (at the end) "an obtuse spirit." That's worth thinking about. What is this "obtuse spirit"? "All these evils," he says, "come from within." This is decidedly Jesus talk. No mincer of words he, and it got him in trouble. Most preachers are more circumspect. But then none walk on water either.

If Jesus didn't walk on water either, as some think, he looked like he could, in terms of dignity and power of demeanor. It's just as well most preachers are more circumspect. Like walking on water, Jesus talk hasn't been done well in a long time. But let the Christian preacher not blink the plain-spokenness of his leader. It's the least he can do.