Gospel Reflection Sept 1 – Fr. Black
Sunday, September 1
Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time
Mark 7:18, 14-15, 21-23
Gospel:
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 summoned the crowd again and said to them,
“Hear me, all of you, and understand.
Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person;
but the things that come out from within are what defile.
“From within people, from their hearts,
come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder,
adultery, greed, malice, deceit,
licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly.
All these evils come from within and they defile.”
Gospel Reflection:
How quickly the Pharisees noticed an omission in Jesus’ disciples’ behavior. My guess is that they checked their own hands to make sure that they were clean before bringing this up to Jesus. I also suspect that there had been times that the Pharisees hands were a little grungy as well. How quick we are to point out the faults of others. Perhaps it’s a habit, perhaps we are at least a little aware of how it may make us feel superior. Or perhaps it is an intentional effort to make someone feel bad for some reason. Regardless, Jesus’ response is an effort to redirect the Pharisees’ attention. If we notice a fault in someone, the best place to look is not just on our outward appearance, but on what’s inside our heart. Do we have a judgmental heart or a forgiving one? Do we build others up or use them to build ourselves up? Jesus calls us to sharpen our focus on our own faults rather than those of others. If we are honest with ourselves, that will keep us busy enough.
Father Black