Reflection for February 11 Tuesday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time: Mark 7:1-13

Gospel: Mark 7:1-13

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 went on to say, “How well you have set aside the commandment of God in order to uphold your tradition! For Moses said, Honor your father and your mother, and Whoever curses father or mother shall die.

Yet you say, ‘If someone says to father or mother, “Any support you might have had from me is qorban”’ (meaning, dedicated to God), you allow him to do nothing more for his father or mother. You nullify the word of God in favor of your tradition that you have handed on. And you do many such things.”

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Reflection:

Are you very strict in observing your customs and traditions? 

The Pharisees were very particular about their customs and traditions, following them to the letter. So, when they saw that Jesus’ disciples ate their meals without washing their hands, they questioned Him about it. 

They said to Jesus, “Why do your disciples not follow the tradition of the elders but instead eat a meal with unclean hands?” 

Jesus responded, “You disregard God's commandment but cling to human tradition.” He went on to say, “How well you have set aside the commandment of God in order to uphold your tradition!” 

We see that Jesus placed more importance on God's commandments than on human traditions—on the interior rather than the exterior, on inner conversion rather than mere outward observance of laws. 

The conversion that Jesus desires for us is one that involves a true change of heart and mindset. For example, instead of indulging in sin, we strive to avoid it. Instead of remaining in an environment where we have sinned, we completely walk away from it. 

For Jesus, what matters most is not our external actions but our internal conversion and renewal.—Marino J. Dasmarinas