Mk. 7: 1-8, 14-15, 21-23
We had a short course on communication theology as part of our theological programme this week. Our professor began the course with few brain-storming games. One of the games that we played opened up our minds to a new insight. The professor gave us a balloon each and asked us to blow the balloons. We blew the balloons into different sizes. Then the professor announced that whoever had the balloon in their hand after three minutes, would be the winner. As soon as we heard this instruction, we all jumped out of our seats and ran into different nooks and corners of our auditorium to protect our balloons and, in the meantime, attempted to break the balloons of others. Finally, we all made sure that no one had a balloon in their hands. With this peace of mind, we went back to our seats. Then the professor asked us: “What did I say to you? And, what did you do? Did I ask any of you to break the balloons of others? I instructed that whoever had balloons after three minutes would be the winners. If you had listened to the instructions, all of you would have been winners. “The intention of our professor was that if we do not listen and understand properly, there would be a failure in the communication process.
Judaism gave great emphasis to puritanism that focused on the external purity of a person. More than a religious reason, there were certain social reasons that made them incorporate such laws into their community. They were nomads before settling down in the Promised Land. Therefore, they gave great importance to external purity to avoid epidemics and other health issues. We clearly see the evidence of this puritan thinking in the Levitical laws. If anyone is impure by way of an act or disease, that person should be cut off from the main streams of the society. The intention was not merely to isolate the individual but also to ensure the safety of society. This puritan thinking was at its peak in Jesus’ time too. In the gospels we see the isolated lives of lepers. The parable of the Good Samaritan reveals this social scenario through the example of a priest and a Levite passing by a wounded man without extending a helping hand because they did not want to be impure by touching a person who was almost dead. In today’s gospel we see a similar situation wherein we see the disciples taking food without washing their hands. The Pharisees who witnessed this violation of Puritan laws accused them of being the culprits. They wanted to label them as impure men because they failed in their observation of Jewish rites of purification.
Jesus tells them clearly that purity of heart is more important than mere observances of external purification ceremonies. In their attempt to be faithful to manmade laws and traditions, they were completely disconnected from authentic religious understanding and reduced their religious experience to certain do’s and do not’s. They became legalistic rather than accepting these laws as a way of life to please Yahweh. The failure of disciples to wash their hands before meals is merely a practice concerned with hygiene, but it was equated with an important religious observance and used as a means to condemn individuals. Jesus makes them understand that external impurities can’t defile a person, rather impurities concerning thoughts and actions that originate from within. This insight of Jesus was a paradigm shift because the entire Jewish laws concerning purification consider external factors as the cause of impurity. Jesus invited them to introspect within rather than blaming external factors.
In the second reading, based on the teachings of Jesus, St. James exhorts all of us that every religion becomes a way of life only when it is lived in charity, blended with love of God and love of neighbour. He says: “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.” If we are concerned about certain do’s and do not’s, it makes us self-righteous like Pharisees. Jesus invites all of us to be transformed into caring and loving people. To become such authentic followers of Christ, we need to listen to the word of God attentively. St. James instructs: “Welcome with meekness the implanted word that has the power to save your souls.” The Pharisees and other religious leaders failed to listen to the words of Jesus. Their minds were preoccupied with manmade laws and they lost the eternal word, Christ Jesus. Therefore, they could not experience the transformation of life that the Good News of Jesus brought forth. As we continue on our faith journey, let us surrender our legalistic and self-righteous mentality to Jesus. Let us listen to him with our hearts so that the word of God may transform our hearts into the dwelling place of God, filled with love for God and our fellow brethren. Amen.