Fifth Week in Ordinary Time – Mark 7:1-13
Today the Pharisees once again are watching Jesus. They noticed that Jesus’ disciples did not observe required “ritual cleansing.” Some of Jesus’ disciples actually had the audacity to not wash their hands before eating. This gave the Pharisees the perfect opportunity to criticize Jesus and His disciples since they were not honoring the Jewish ritual customs.
In response to their reprimand, Jesus quotes a passage from Isaiah. Jesus confronts them by saying that although they honor God with their lips and words, their hearts are not in union with God. Jesus is disgusted with the Pharisees because the “law” has become their “god.” For most of them, the “letter of the law” seems to supersede the “law of God’s love.” For the Pharisees, the law is everything. Compared to the law, the people are insignificant.
At times in our lives, it may be difficult to decide what is best: to do as the “law” requires or to do what seems to be truly “loving.” For Jesus, the gift of love far outweighs the “law.” Jesus is not saying that the “law” is not important. It is. However, the “law of love” should reign in our lives! Will this “law of love” reign in our hearts today?
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