Tuesday of the Fifth week of Ordinary Time
Genesis 1:20-2:4
Mark 7:1-13
Our readings come to us with the demanding message, to be absolutely honest with ourselves and to see the hypocrisy of our lives. Simply put, what was the last sin we did in secret? How do we act like it was no big deal or that no one is going to know? We look so holy, but are we?
In our first reading from Genesis, we hear how God created everything, and everything was created for good. The Jewish people created laws to remind them of God as they went through their day.
In our Gospel, the scribes and Pharisees have taken the purifications of hands, cups, jugs, kettles and other items to a whole new level. The Pharisees unlike the rest of the Jewish nation created more ritual purifications to do before a meal. Their the idea was to imitate what the priest did in the temple by purifying all the vessels and their hands. All these purifications were to sanctify their families. What has happened is the Pharisees have become very scrupulous in their ways, and all these external aspects have not led to a deeper meaning of love for God. Jesus calls them hypocrites because they pay lip service and they do not look to change their hearts.
The big challenge for all of us is to look into our hearts and see how we are like the scribes and Pharisees. How do we pay God lip service by saying all the right things but it does not affect our lives, our hearts are not changed to see Christ. Think of the last sin we know we committed. God is calling us to focus more on him and bring him in to help us stop this sinful behavior.
The Eucharist we celebrate is meant to bring closer to God and loving others? May we see God in all things today?
frmarkpeacock 