Daily Word, 09 February 2021

Marc 7: 1-13

Now when the Pharisees gathered to him, with some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem, they saw that some of his disciples ate with hands that were defiled, that is, unwashed. (For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands properly, holding to the tradition of the elders, and when they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other traditions that they observe, such as the washing of cups and pots and copper vessels and dining couches.) And the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, “Why do your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands?” And 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;

in vain do they worship me,

teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’

You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men.”

And he said to them, “You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to establish your tradition! For Moses said, Honor your father and your mother’; and, Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.’ But you say, ‘If a man tells his father or his mother, “Whatever you would have gained from me is Corban”’ (that is, given to God)— then you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or mother, thus making void the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And many such things you do.”

What touched my Soul

This text from Marc‘s gospel have several interesting reflection points, although tonight I would like to mention an element that recently been related with discussions happening on social media.

I’ve been reading some orthodox and conservative groups of the church commenting against some guidance, actions and support pope Francis been given to some progressive wings of the church. I believe tradition has an important role in a organisation with 2000 years, although that cannot be the guide to the future. Tradition is about the past, learnings made, action taken considered good and right in the past. history that made the church in the past. We now need to lead the future.

Obviously in a institution like the church, reformations and new concepts will necessarily be done at the light of the gospel and the bible, nevertheless we cant stop changes because of tradition. The church of the XXI century need to find anwers to the XXI century man, that have different concerns and viewpoints than the men of the XVI or XII century. It makes no sense to keep tradition just for the sake that it was good a 1000 years ago. We run the risk of loosing souls to the real enemy, the sin an evil.

Nonetheless, the roots are the same no matter what century you live in. Christ message is a message of love. So, we absolutely need to focus on the love for others. Be focused on the way we welcome our brothers and sisters from all different credos, colour and groups. We cant loose one soul to the evil.

If we look at Marc’s gospel today, Jesus is more interested in the way we put our heart on things, love our brothers and follow the word of God than the gestures, rituals, traditions we follow to express it.

think about this today...reflect and pray for all that are changing our church, that the holy spirit guide them towards the good of the church and the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ, God made man.