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Gospel Reading for February 11, 2025 – Mark 7: 1-13
MEANINGLESS
When the Pharisees with some scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus, they observed that some of his disciples ate their meals with unclean, that is, unwashed, hands. (For the Pharisees and, in fact, all Jews, do not eat without carefully washing their hands, keeping the tradition of the elders. And on coming from the marketplace they do not eat without purifying themselves. And there are many other things that they have traditionally observed, the purification of cups and jugs and kettles and beds.). So the Pharisees and scribes questioned him, “Why do your disciples not follow the tradition of the elders but instead eat a meal with unclean hands?” He responded, “Well did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites, as it is written:
This people honors me with their lips,
but their hearts are far from me;
in vain do they worship me,
teaching as doctrines human
precepts.
You disregard God’s commandment but cling to human tradition.” He went on to say, “How well you have set aside the commandment of God in order to uphold your tradition! For Moses said, Honor your father and your mother, and Whoever curses father or mother shall die. Yet you say, ‘If someone says to father or mother, “Any support you might have had from me is qorban”‘ (meaning, dedicated to God), you allow him to do nothing more for his father or mother. You nullify the word of God in favor of your tradition that you have handed on. And you do many such things.”
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The precepts of the Lord are perfect, but following them will not make us perfect. What will make us perfect is when we follow them with True Love. This coming Lenten Season, we may fast and abstain as often as we can, but if we fast and abstain just to follow a mere ritual or because it had already become a habit, or worse, to let others know we are making sacrifices, then all these will be MEANINGLESS.
It is not surprising that the Jews, especially their leaders or elders, did their best to make sure Jesus will receive the death sentence. As they say, the truth hurts, but what they forgot was – the truth sets us free. Jesus tried his best to set them free, but they chose to be prisoners of their beliefs. No wonder, Jesus started with the words, “Woe to you . . .” when addressing the Pharisees.
Lord, may we be able to see the perfection of your laws, and appreciate them by living them!
