From the responsorial psalm: “When I behold your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars which you set in place—What is man that you should be mindful of him, or the son of man that you should care for him? O Lord, our God, how wonderful your name in all the earth!”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (Mk 7:1-13, today’s readings)
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.”
The Pharisees observe that the disciples of Jesus eat their meals with unwashed hands and fail to purify themselves after coming from the marketplace, according to Jewish tradition. In questioning Jesus about this, they point out that the disciples are not followers of the tradition of the elders. Jesus’ response cuts to the heart of the issue as he quotes Isaiah to reveal their oppressive teaching and deep-rooted hypocrisy. He criticizes the Pharisees for allowing traditions to undermine God’s inherently good commandments through their strict adherence to rituals. Intentions matter; in prayer and ritual observance, where do we find God except in hearing and doing his will, inclining our hearts to his decrees?
God, your law is rooted in love, mercy, and justice. Through the person of Jesus, you give us every one of these gifts—not a set of prohibitions or obligations but a call toward the good to build relationship with you and others in a way that corresponds to your will. When Jesus says the Pharisees nullify your word and that they “do many such things,” give me the grace to recognize the ways I turn away from you and your word. When I am tempted to think that those who set aside your commandments and instead upheld tradition lived and died a long time ago, guide me to the realization that I myself have done the same and will do the same again. From Genesis, I read: “God looked at everything he had made, and he found it very good.” Guide me, Lord, to see as you see. Blessed Virgin Mary, pray for us!
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.