The Gospel of Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23
When the Pharisees and some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around him, they noticed that some of his disciples were eating with defiled hands, that is, without washing them. (For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, do not eat unless they thoroughly wash their hands, thus observing the tradition of the elders; and they do not eat anything from the market unless they wash it; and there are also many other traditions that they observe, the washing of cups, pots, and bronze kettles.) So the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, “Why do your disciples not live according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands?” He said to them, “Isaiah prophesied rightly about you hypocrites, as it is written, ‘This people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching human precepts as doctrines.’
You abandon the commandment of God and hold to human tradition.” Then he called the crowd again and said to them, “Listen to me, all of you, and understand there is nothing outside a person that by going in can defile, but the things that come out are what defile.” For it is from within, from the human heart, that evil intentions come: fornication, theft, murder, adultery, avarice, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, pride, folly. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”
Let us Pray: Heavenly Father, Help us to focus on the purity of our hearts rather than external appearances. Guide us to cleanse our thoughts and intentions, so that our actions reflect Your love and holiness. May we always seek to honor You with our hearts and not just our lips. Amen.
Today’s gospel lesson reminds me of today’s politics. Instead of looking at real items that need addressed, our politicians worry more about trivial things instead of homelessness, and hungry children. Look at the money spent on an election and imagine what it could do to help those in need. The Pharisees and some of the scribes were more concerned about washing their hands and ignoring the real work Jesus was doing. They were worried about losing their status in the church if they did not strictly follow what Jesus called human precepts as doctrines. Jesus criticized the Pharisees for prioritizing human traditions over God’s commandments. He quotes Isaiah, highlighting that their worship is in vain because their hearts are far from God. This calls us to reflect on our own practices and whether they truly honor God or merely follow human customs. Jesus tells the crowd that what defiles a person comes from within, not from external sources. He lists various sins that originate from the heart, such as evil thoughts, theft, and deceit. This underscores the need for self-examination and spiritual growth, focusing on our inner life and relationship with God. By addressing the crowd and his disciples, Jesus extends his message beyond the religious elite. This inclusivity reflects God’s compassion and the call to embrace all people, regardless of their adherence to specific traditions.
Consider how this passage speaks to your own life. Are there traditions or habits that you follow more out of routine than genuine faith? How can you cultivate a heart that seeks purity and aligns with God’s commandments? Reflect on the ways you can show compassion and inclusivity in your community, following Jesus’ example. From this week’s Epistle James 22-25: But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.
Let us Pray: Loving God, Teach us to look beyond traditions and customs that separate us from one another. Help us to embrace all people with compassion and love, just as Jesus did. May our hearts be open to those who are different from us, and may we always seek to include and uplift others. Amen.
Reflections by Bob 