Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23
Now when the Pharisees and some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around him, 2 they noticed that some of his disciples were eating with defiled hands, that is, without washing them. 3 (For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, do not eat unless they thoroughly wash their hands, thus observing the tradition of the elders; 4 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.)
5 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?” 6 He said to them, “Isaiah prophesied rightly about you hypocrites, as it is written,
‘This people honors me with their lips,but their hearts are far from me;
7 in vain do they worship me, teaching human precepts as doctrines.’
8 You abandon the commandment of God and hold to human tradition.”
14 Then he called the crowd again and said to them, “Listen to me, all of you, and understand: 15 there is nothing outside a person that by going in can defile, but the things that come out are what defile.” 21 For it is from within, from the human heart, that evil intentions come: fornication, theft, murder, 22 adultery, avarice, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, pride, folly. 23 All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”
God's commandment or human teachings?
Wherever Jesus goes, He reminds us of God's will, which is beyond the normal human understanding of His commandments. Jesus invites His listeners to go deeper spiritually, mentally and practically.
Gatherings around food were and remain one of the best occasions for sharing social connections, views, and news, showing everyone’s own culture and character.
As in all dogmatic teachings and practice, Jewish ways have both religion and religiosity.
First is the written Law of Moses (The Pentateuch or Torah). The second authority is thought to be inspired by God, delivered orally to Moses, who transmitted it to Aaron. He in turn transmitted it to the elders of Israel to become the code of daily practice, having the same impact as the written one.
Washing hands is one of those commands. It’s best for them to be seen washing in the presence of one’s companions. Jesus is His disciples' Teacher. He should teach them to abide "by the tradition of the elders" (v. 5).
The Scribes and Pharisees blame the Teacher more than the disciples. The disciples probably practiced this custom before Jesus called them to follow Him, but we see many attempts to try and trap Jesus as a rebel against the Law.
Jesus invites them, with a sharp tone this time, to reflect deeper about what elements defile a person, those coming from outside or those coming from inside the heart. We notice Jesus using hard terminology this time calling them hypocrites and people with two faces. “Are you respecting God's commandments based upon true heartly love, or the restrictions imposed by human traditions that may uproot love and respect? Whom do you obey, God or humans?”
This Sunday we are invited to think about our personal faith in God. Do we respond to His love and teaching that’s received by the Holy Gospel, or to our own interpretations and views that justify our understanding and our practice of our faith?
Jesus is certainly pleased to see us gathered for our Sunday celebrations. Are we performing them with a contrite heart or with a mere social presence and out loud voices? Do we leave the Church in better condition than we entered?
Let us remember how happy Jesus is when we listen to Him, going deeper into His heart, His mind and our own as well.