By Amala William csc –
Readings: Gen 1:20-2:4a; Mk 7:1-13
Readings of the day invite us to realize the intensity of the law than making peripheral judgment based on human assumption. In the first reading we see that God creates all kinds of creatures according to his will and finds everything good. He blessed and sanctified all as the way he wanted and found as good. In the Gospel we see, Pharisees, Scribes and others found fault with Jesus’ disciples that they had eaten the bread without washing hands.
First of all, this washing of hands is understood as a ritual; not the literal meaning of lack of hygiene. The ritual says that even the goods from market or the vessel that is clean needs to be cleansed for the sake of tradition. Actually, it comes from the Ten Commandments which are multiplied into 613 laws. They were highly active at that time of Judaism.
Jesus grabs this opportunity to teach a lesson by pointing out Isaiah’s prophesies, ‘This people honour me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.’ He gives a clear example of how they manipulate law for their whims and fancies by indicating the importance of the Corban (gift) than honoring the father or mother. Today’s gospel invites me to follow the spirit of the law, not the letter of the law in itself for the good of all. Often, I have acted as a wonderful advocate for myself, and upon others as a judge. One small mistake of my companion takes me back to the past and all he had done and I make a judgment on him that ‘this person is bad from that time’.
Jesus wants me to wash away such stereotypical condemnation that I make on others. On this day, may the spirit of the law enable each of us to understand its intensity, and unite us as his disciples.