Love, Not Rules

 

 Mark 7: 1-13

That Which Defiles

7 The Pharisees and some of the teachers of the law who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus ² and saw some of his disciples eating food with hands that were defiled, that is, unwashed. ³ (The Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they give their hands a ceremonial washing, holding to the tradition of the elders. ⁴ When they come from the marketplace they do not eat unless they wash. And they observe many other traditions, such as the washing of cups, pitchers and kettles.)

⁵ So the Pharisees and teachers of the law asked Jesus, “Why don’t your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders instead of eating their food with defiled hands?”

⁶ He replied, “Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written:

“‘These people honor me with their lips,
    but their hearts are far from me.
⁷ They worship me in vain;
    their teachings are merely human rules.’

⁸ You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.”

⁹ And he continued, “You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions! ¹⁰ For Moses said, ‘Honor your father and mother,’ and, ‘Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.’ ¹¹ But you say that if anyone declares that what might have been used to help their father or mother is Corban (that is, devoted to God)— ¹² then you no longer let them do anything for their father or mother. ¹³ Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that.”

Structure and rules are necessary to guide and clarify behaviors, as we see more and more in our society where "me", not "you" is the guiding force in a society declining more and more each day into an ineffective muddle of near chaos. Jesus points out that simply keeping the rules is not enough, for their is a greater rule, a deeper law, the "Law of Love," that is the most binding and life-giving. Verse 9: "You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions." Do I see this tendency in my own life? Or can I say that I seek the path of love of my neighbor, his greater good rather than my own,  and try to live by "the law of love:" and implement it as best I can in my daily interaction with others?  Let us not be with the "lip servers", but with the "heart servers".

Bro. Rene

God, bring our hearts close to you. There is much in this world that makes us feel steady and in control, but we know that ultimately our strength will fail and our grasp on the things in our lives will not stand the test of time. Only you, Lord, are unmoving, solid and sure. And yet, you give us an example that is flexible and open, a witness that loves through thick and thin and will not become calcified or rigid. Soften our hearts to love in that way and bring our hearts close to you. Amen.  

Rev. Matthew Kuczora, C.S.C.