Reflection for Sunday September 1, Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time: Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23

Gospel: 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.”

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Reflection:

A middle-aged wife was always seen by her husband every morning carefully fixing herself, especially her makeup, before going to work. One morning, the husband inquired, “Why are you so particular about your physical appearance?” The wife retorted, “I need to look good so that I always look fresh and young.” 

In the Gospel, the Pharisees questioned Jesus regarding His followers who were not observing the external traditions. However, Jesus would have none of it because, for Him, external observance is simply a façade. What is important to Jesus is what is in our hearts.

Many of us are like this middle-aged woman, very particular about our external appearance and the impression we convey. However, what is the use of an external impression if we don’t follow the commands of the Lord? What is the use of a pretty or handsome appearance if we are spewing expletives and scorn?

Physical appearance is useless, for it is passing and temporary. What is important is what is inside us, like the goodness and purity of our hearts, which we translate into actual acts of love, mercy, and compassion. What matters is that we do good without seeking recognition, honor, or adulation.

What is important is that we follow the commands of the Lord and not the temptations and commands of the devil. The commands of the devil are always disguised as attractive and tempting, yet they lead us to emptiness, nothingness, and brokenness in the end. – Marino J. Dasmarinas