Readings: August 30, 2009

In tomorrow's Gospel reading, the Pharisees respond with understandable confusion when Jesus and his disciples casually disregard the Jewish hand-washing tradition. Jesus says,

You disregard God’s commandment but cling to human tradition...

First, it is challenging that Jesus sets aside a Jewish tradition that is so easy to fulfill. Why doesn't he just wash his hands? We often hear him described as an "observant" Jew, when someone wants to explain his words and actions in that context. We can probably overstate his fidelity to Jewish law. He is, after all, here to fulfill and transcend the old covenant and establish a Church that leaves those traditions behind. But it is still probably true (or maybe not) that he would observe the Jewish traditions unless he had a good reason not too. It seems likely to me that he wanted to raise the question so that he could make the response that he makes, in order to teach.

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.

Consider each item in the list separately. Go ahead.

It's quite a little reflection, isn't it? We should pause to acknowledge how unusual our "normal" human behavior is. This is not the way people were designed to function. We are malfunctioning, badly. It's embarrassing. We defile ourselves.

The second reading says,

Be doers of the word and not hearers only, deluding yourselves. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

A priest told me today in confession, "Acts of charity drive out sin." That's the solution. Take the focus off of your own desires. Remember, all those sins Jesus mentioned come from within. Turn your focus outward, and let them wither for lack of attention.

Easier said than done, right? Man...

Suffice to say, we need a savior. We need a "rebirth". The second reading again:

He willed to give us birth by the word of truth... Humbly welcome the word that has been planted in you and is able to save your souls.

Did you catch that "able to"? This is referring, I think, to the parable of the sower.

The seed has been planted = We have heard the word. We have taken it into us, right into our hearts, the same hearts from which Jesus said come all those nasty sins.

But that doesn't mean we're saved.

It has the power to save us.

Be doers of the word and not hearers only, deluding yourselves.

Charity drives out sin.

The truth is, I have a deathgrip on my personal desires. The idea of spending any amount of time doing "extra" good works seems awful to me, because I have a good idea of my own mortality and there are a lot of fun things I want to do before I die.

And I'm definitely one of those people who notices if somebody violates the GIRM.

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.

I'm a Pharisee.  Oh, and welcome to my new blog.