Sparkles of Light (Mk 7:1-13)

7 February 2012, Tuesday, 5^th Week of the Year

 MEANINGFUL TRADITIONS

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."

Mk 7:1-13

            Today’s Gospel reading is similar to what happened in chapter two of Mark when Jesus’ disciples started to pluck head of grains during Sabbath.  And we know that it is considered a crime to “work” on Sabbath as interpreted by the religious authorities such as the Pharisees.  Hence, the religious leaders questioned Jesus about the law on Sabbath.  Yet Jesus and his disciples didn’t break the law for they were just addressing a human need.  Thus, Jesus reminds us that love is beyond any human law.  We are again reminded about this in today’s Gospel.  Moreover, Jesus reminds us that our traditions will be meaningful if we put our hearts into it.

            In our Roman Catholic Church, Tradition is placed equally with God’s Word, the Sacred Scriptures.  “It is therefore to be received with the same internal assent of Scripture, for it is the word of God.”  Thus, we have different rites and practices in masses and sacraments; we have Lenten fasting and meatless Fridays; we have the rosary and benediction; and more.  This makes our faith richer and meaningful for these are articles of faith the leads us closer to God.

            However there are some things we need to pay attention when we are following traditions.  Just like the Sacred Scripture, it becomes truly alive and powerful when we embrace the word of God, allowing it to transform our lives and others through our words and deeds.  Traditions should also be taken in the same manner.  It doesn’t mean that when we do our traditions, we are fulfilling our “obligations.”  No.  If our traditions, prayers, worship and sacrifice are not transforming us and others, then it is just an empty tradition.

            Perhaps you have heard stories of a rich lady who faithfully attends daily masses, but doesn’t give a single centavo to the beggar outside of the church; or the story of a teenager who fast in order to win favour from his parents to buy that new gadget; or the story of a man who devotedly prays the rosary, but always shouts and demands to his wife.  What happened to meaningful traditions?  Our traditions should reflect both what is interior and exterior of us.    

            In the Gospel story, Jesus’ disciples didn’t follow the tradition by eating with unclean hands.  Despite not having clean hands, their intentions were pure and deep.  Despite how dirty the religious authorities think, their hearts were so clean.  All of us have traditions and there is nothing wrong in following and doing these traditions.  I think the message of Jesus is clear.  If you do these things yet there is no change in our heart and our souls, then there is no meaning in our traditions.