God's Commandments, not human traditions

 

‘LORD, THAT I MAY SEE.’

A SHORT COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF THE DAY ACCORDING TO THE CATHOLIC LECTIONARY.

 

Gospel

Mark 7:1-13

You get round the commandment of God to preserve your own tradition

1.      The Pharisees and some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered round Jesus,

2.      and they noticed that some of his disciples were eating with unclean hands, that is, without washing them.

3.      For the Pharisees, and the Jews in general, follow the tradition of the elders and never eat without washing their arms as far as the elbow; and on returning from the market place they never eat without first sprinkling themselves.

4.      There are also many other observances which have been handed down to them concerning the washing of cups and pots and bronze dishes.

5.      So these Pharisees and scribes asked him, ‘Why do your disciples not respect the tradition of the elders but eat their food with unclean hands?’

6.      He answered, ‘It was of you hypocrites that Isaiah so rightly prophesied in this passage of scripture:

7.      This people honours me only with lip-service,

8.      while their hearts are far from me.

9.      The worship they offer me is worthless,

10.  the doctrines they teach are only human regulations.

11.  You put aside the commandment of God to cling to human traditions.’

12.  And he said to them, ‘How ingeniously you get round the commandment of God in order to preserve your own tradition!

13.  For Moses said: Do your duty to your father and your mother, and, Anyone who curses father or mother must be put to death.

14.  But you say, “If a man says to his father or mother: Anything I have that I might have used to help you is Corban (that is, dedicated to God),

15.  then he is forbidden from that moment to do anything for his father or mother.”

16.  In this way you make God’s word null and void

17.  for the sake of your tradition which you have handed down.

18.  And you do many other things like this.’

 

As human beings ransomed by Jesus, true God and true man, we must love him and love all other human beings as he does. This is our religion.  This is the only Law. Everything else is to help us fulfil this law. All divine laws will do this if we keep them in the way God has given them to us. Human laws and traditions may or may not. The question we must ask ourselves is: Does this law help me to love Jesus and my brothers and sisters? If the answer is ‘yes,’ then it is a good law.

Many laws are negative laws: thou shalt not… these laws are for the people who lack faith and love. Beyond this we sin grievously. But they are the minimum. As we have faith then we will go to the other extreme of loving perfectly. There is no limit to the  love we should show to God and to others.

The letter kills; we observe the law without it being an expression of our inner spirit of love. The spirit gives life: the human law is a guideline for us to express our love. Only love has value.