(James Tissot)
Deut
4: 1-2, 6-8
James
1: 17-18, 21b-22, 27Mk 7: 1-8. 14-15, 21-23
Doing
the same thing over and over again may lead to impressive results. We may
become quite successful, perhaps even proficient as in the skill of playing a
musical instrument, ice skating, playing soccer, or cooking. Perfecting a certain technique may take years
of repetitive discipline until one day it all comes together! Watching an Olympic athlete or a professional
musician whose skill is near perfect makes a complex set of turns, stretches
and dips or movements of the hand appear effortless.
This
Sunday our Scriptures invite us to consider the value of practice makes perfect
but in regards to our life of faith. The
Book of Deuteronomy presents Moses in his role as prophet and teacher: “Now
Israel, hear the statues and decrees which I am teaching you to observe, that
you may live, and may enter in and take possession of the land which the Lord,
the God of your fathers, is giving you . . .”
Moses
reminds the people why they followed the God who revealed himself to Moses. Because he remained near to them, he destroyed their enemies, he cared for
them, he heard their groaning and fears and responded with water, manna, and quail - the "bread from heaven." The God of the Hebrews was certainly unique
from the gods of other pagan people around them. Those gods were distant and unresponsive
for there is no other god that can do for them what the true living God will
do.
Therefore,
Moses admonishes the people to mark carefully, without change, to observe, “. .
. the commandments of the Lord, your God . . .” In doing so, they will be a
“wise and intelligent people . . .” and an example of right living to all
around them. This sacred Law of God demands of them a high moral character; a
change of heart and mind and conformity to right relationship.
Human
nature being what it is, though, it will take practice over time to reach
understanding and to make these Laws a normal part of their life style. Yet,
are we obedient for obedience sake or does God desire something more from us? That is, do we obey by removing ourselves from
others to remain undefiled or do we remove sin from our heart to serve the Lord
more faithfully? That question is posed to Jesus.
The
Pharisees with some scribes confront Jesus about his own disciples’ lack of obedience
to the hygienic laws established before eating a meal. They, Jesus’ disciples, eat
like the “common person, “like Gentiles not like Jews. Law upon law had been established and the
Pharisees created a religion of laws rather than a faith of the heart. “Why do your disciples not follow the
tradition of the elders . . .?,” they grill Jesus.
The
view was essentially that Jews needed to remain somehow unique and different
from others around them. Such scrupulous
meal rituals as we hear of in the Gospel today became a way to say, “We are not
like you.” But our Lord makes it clear that a higher law is what changes
us.
“You
disregard God’s commandments but cling to human tradition . . .” Jesus
criticizes the leaders. It is what is
inside a man/woman’s heart that needs to be changed. Then, Jesus’ list of the fallen human “heart”
is disturbing but true: “From within people, from their hearts, come evil
thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice deceit,
licentiousness (decadence), envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly . . .” My, my how
politically incorrect he sounds!
Obedience
to the Law of God will cure the sickness of our souls. It isn’t about outward appearance, about
looking holy and good, about walking around with hands folded and eyes
downcast, or about shaving and grooming, or dare I say a slavish following of
liturgical rubrics which will make us acceptable before the Lord. This is not
to say that we should go around looking like we just woke up from the nearest
landfill or that our sacred liturgies should be sloppy, unprepared, or dull and
uninspiring. It is about a higher law at work in our hearts that addresses our
constant need for reform.
The
moral for us in this day and age, it seems, is not much different than it was
for the ancients. The human heart hasn’t changed much. Anyone who may feel that unchastity, theft,
murder, adultery, greed, envy, or blasphemy are somehow passé needs to listen
to the evening news or speak to any priest who has heard confessions.
The
complexity of present day culture, speaking with many conflicting voices about
freedom, individual rights, equality, gender identity, toleration is pulling
all of us to question which “law” is the most applicable for today. Is every choice or life style to be embraced?
So we question, or at least we should, the confusion created. The Church does as well as it has in every
age of history – sometimes very effectively and sometimes on its knees in
repentance.
But
the voices today are loud and more forceful due to modern means of
communication. The members reflect the
culture of the time so we cannot help but bring the surrounding culture into
our gatherings as well. So, it seems to
me, that accommodation is the key.
When
Pope John XXIII convened the Second Vatican Council in 1962 he suggested, “We
open the windows of the Church to let in some fresh air.” For a time afterwards
it seemed that meant that much of the culture around should be embraced but
today we have come to see that a more mature and discerning mind and heart was
the intention of our late Holy Father and the Fathers of the Council itself.
So,
the positions of the Church today that have become flaming social points around
marriage, the sanctity of life, family planning, have challenged us to ask how
much can be accommodated by we Christians, stilled called to be different from
those around us in that we question and are called as well to follow the higher
moral code which God has revealed to us.
Do
you feel that a discerning heart is still needed today or is the Church simply
out of touch by not accommodating more to present day social changes? Is the rejection of same-sex so called marriage,
abortions rights, and artificial contraception a judgment upon others or an
embrace of the Law of God in rejection of the sins of the heart?
When
we come to gather for the Eucharist, what do I bring with me that is worthy for
the Lord? St. James wisely admonishes us today to, “. . . keep oneself
unstained by the world.”
Jesus
speaks in the Gospel: “Hear me, all of you, and understand.”
No comments:
Post a Comment