The Tradition of the Elders [September 2, 2012]

The Sunday Gospel [September 2, 2012]

Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23

1 Now when the Pharisees gathered together to him, with some of the scribes, who had come from Jerusalem, 2they saw that some of his disciples ate with hands defiled, that is, unwashed. 3(For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, do not eat unless they wash their hands, observing the tradition of the elders; 4and when they come from the market place, they do not eat unless they purify themselves; and there are many other traditions which they observe, the washing of cups and pots and vessels of bronze.) 5 And the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, "Why do your disciples not live according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with hands  defiled?" 6And he said to them, "Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, `This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; 7in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.' 8You leave the commandment of God, and hold fast the tradition of men."

14And he called the people to him again, and said to them, "Hear me, all of  you, and understand: 15there is nothing outside a man which by going into him can defile him; but the things which come out of a man are what defile him."

21For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, fornication, theft, murder, adultery, 22coveting, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. 23All these evil things come from within, and they defile a man."

Reflection

“This people honor me with their lips.” ~ v. 6

The fornicators among us are surely going to be disturbed by Jesus’ words. So also the greedy-guts. The same thing might be said for liars, adulterers, thieves, killers, sensualists, the envious, the arrogant, and the obtuse.

Perhaps the best tack is to scrap the whole Gospel and talk about love and expansion of funds. It is not uncommon, after all, for us to expunge those parts of the Gospel that offend us. But usually we have to listen to the stuff and squirm.

It is a funny thing to sit in the pew on Sundays when a whole list of sins and sinners is enumerated from the Gospels or the various Epistles. Our shoulders shrink a bit in hope that we are not mentioned, or at least that the blows fall not too hard. Possibly we feel relieved that smoking and drinking are not mentioned. Some of us may sigh. It is those “others” that Jesus is talking about.

Or maybe we dwell – savoring it – on those “others.” That guy who has loads of money. I hope he heard the word “greed.” Or the woman who has seen three marriages. She’d better be listening. Or those fakes who think they are so good; they’ll get their fill of the Gospel. And I hope those people who eat and drink too much know what the word “sensuality” means. They could learn a thing or two if they would just open up their ears. As for those who envy my own virtue and success, thank God they are condemned as well.

The old Pharisees were experts in the law. Matters of right and wrong. Weighty concerns of judgment. They knew where people stood. But Jesus seemed to have more difficulty with the Pharisees than with any other group. They did not mind hearing about sin, as long as it did not apply to them. They were righteous, but self-righteously so. They honored their self-images and projections; their own traditions. Jesus quoted Isaiah to penetrate their defenses: “You teach as dogmas mere human precepts.”

For myself, this stings a bit. I cherish what has been handed down as tried and true. But if I cherish tradition, must I not be vigilant that my heart is in the right place? Does Christ speak to me when he says: “You disregard God’s commandment and cling to what is human tradition?” Does he address his Church? Its scribes? Its leaders? This people pays me lip service but their heart is far from me. Empty is the revenge they give me because they teach as dogmas mere human precepts.”

A secret consolation is this: if our hearts are stung by Jesus’ challenge to the Pharisees, our hearts are almost healed.

A gifted and forceful woman once told me of a horrifying revelation. She realized at prayer that she was a Pharisee, she who judged others, she who did not trust God.

What a lovely moment. If you think you are a Pharisee, you most surely are not. If you think, you are not, watch out.

Reflection Credits: Fr. John F. Kavanaugh, S.J., The Word Exposed

Source: The Reflection is from Bro. Abel Navarro (you can visit his blog at http://myblogabelnavarroabel.blogspot.com/).