DAILY- HOMILY

February 12, 2019 – TUESDAY, 5th Week in Ordinary Time

Green.

Gn 1: 20 – 2: 4a / Mk 7: 1 – 13

From the 1st Reading:    Gn 1: 31a

God saw all he had made, and it was very good.

Gospel Reading:               Mk 7: 1 – 13

One day the Pharisees gathered around Jesus and with them were some teachers of the Law who had just come from Jerusalem. They noticed that some of his disciples were eating their meal with unclean hands, that is, without washing them.

Now the Pharisees, and in fact, all the Jews, never eat without washing their hands for they follow the tradition received from their ancestors. Nor do they eat anything when they come from the market without first washing themselves. And there are many other traditions they observe, for example, the ritual washing of cups, pots and plates.

So the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law asked him, "why do your disciples not follow the tradition of the elders, but eat with unclean hands?"

Jesus answered, "You, shallow people! How well Isaiah prophesied of you when he wrote: This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. The worship they offer me is worthless for what they teach are only human rules. You even put aside the commandment of God to hold fast to human tradition."

And Jesus commented, "You have a fine way of disregarding the commandment of God in order to implant your own tradition. For example, Moses said: Do your duty to your father and your mother, and: Whoever curses his father or his mother is to be put to death. But according to you someone could say to his father or mother: 'I have already declared Corban, which means 'offered to God,' what you could have expected from me.' In this case you no longer do anything for your father or mother. So you nullify the word of God through the tradition you have handed on. And you do many other things like that."

REFLECTIONS

In the first reading we are told that everything God created was good. How truly powerful is God and how generous is he to us!

As with the Pharisees and lawyers of the Law in today's Gospel reading, many honor him only with lip-service. Many have made religion the following of human regulations and traditions, which enable them to void God's key commandments of loving our fellows.

In many cultures there are many traditions which go against God's commandment by giving importance to useless things.. As Christians we should speak out against such practices and traditions. Christians should reject superstitious beliefs, erroneous customs, discriminatory attitudes towards women and disadvantaged groups, adoration of idols and religious fanaticism. Even in our Catholic religion we should reject erroneous beliefs, practices and priorities.

Christ stresses that God's ways are much simpler and are based on his commandment of love of God and neighbor. Let us love God and neighbor and reject meaningless practices and traditions.

FINALLY, WE PRAY FOR ONE ANOTHER, FOR THOSE WHO HAVE ASKED OUR PRAYERS AND FOR THOSE WHO NEED OUR PRAYERS THE MOST. 

Have a good day!

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   |  distributed free and for personal use only.  

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