First Reading
22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time – Cycle B – 2009 Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-8
Moses said to the people: “Now, Israel, hear the statutes 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. In your observance of the commandments of the Lord, your God, which I enjoin upon you, you shall not add to what I command you nor subtract from it. Observe them carefully, for thus will you give evidence of your wisdom and intelligence to the nations, who will hear of all these statutes and say, ‘This great nation is truly a wise and intelligent people.’ For what great nation is there that has gods so close to it as the Lord, our God, is to us whenever we call upon him? Or what great nation has statutes and decrees that are as just as this whole law which I am setting before you today?”
Second Reading
James 1:17-18, 21b-22, 27
Dearest brothers and sisters: All good giving and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no alteration or shadow caused by change. He willed to give us birth by the word of truth that we may be a kind of first-fruits of his creatures. Humbly welcome the word that has been planted in you and is able to save your souls. 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.
Gospel Cycle Cycle B
Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23
When the Pharisees with some scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus, they observed that some of his disciples ate their meals with unclean, that is, unwashed, hands. — For the Pharisees and, in fact, all Jews, do not eat without carefully washing their hands, keeping the tradition of the elders. And on coming from the marketplace they do not eat without purifying themselves. And there are many other things that they have traditionally observed, the purification of cups and jugs and kettles and beds. –So the Pharisees and scribes questioned him, “Why do your disciples not follow the tradition of the elders but instead eat a meal with unclean hands?” He responded, “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.” He summoned the crowd again and said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand. 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.”
Today we are given readings to help us focus on the role of the commandments in our lives. All of us are aware that there is a lot more in Church law today than just the ten commandments. For our Jewish sisters and brothers, also, there had been a gradual introduction of all kinds of laws and practices which helped them understand and live their faith.
Moses is very careful to tell his people: don’t add anything to this and don’t take things away. Jurisprudence is the art of interpreting what the law means. Always when there are laws or regulations, there will be a need for interpretation. The broader the laws, the more theoretical the laws, the more there will be need for interpretation.
For instance: though shall not kill. Does that mean that all killing is forbidden? Can I defend myself if someone tries to kill me? Can I serve in the army of my country? If I see someone attacking another person, can I do anything about it?
Moses tells the people that by observing the commandments carefully, they will give witness of their wisdom and intelligence to the other nations. Probably most of us don’t think that when we observe the teachings of the Church we give witness to our wisdom and intelligence! On the other hand, the more we reflect on the basic teachings of our Church with faith in Jesus Christ, we come to see that they are truly wisdom teachings and incredibly well thought out as well as based on faith.
Only the believer who takes time to pray and intellectual energy to reflect can come to understand more and more deeply the wisdom and intelligence of Church teachings, which are based on the Scriptures. We seem to have lost so much of this tradition in the Church in the present age. It does not help us to be sad about it. Instead, we can dedicate ourselves to this work of praying and reflecting so that each of us can become strong, wise and intelligent followers of the Lord.
Only with wisdom and intelligence can we remain free of being blind followers who accept everything without thinking or of being intellectually arrogant and rejecting belief because it is not science.
We call upon the Lord today and reflect on the words of the second reading: 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.
May the Word of God transform us today so that we are wise and intelligent witnesses to the presence of Christ in our world!