CVM helpdesk: Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time

Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time

August 30, 2015

Gospel: Mk 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23

When the Pharisees with some scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus, they observed (1) 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 (2), 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 (3) human precepts (4). 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 (5) 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 (6), envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly. All these evils come from within and they defile."

(http://usccb.org/bible/readings/083015.cfm)

The difficult words

(1) To observe also means to watch and notice.

(2) Hypocrites are people who say one thing (usually about how good they are) but do something else.

(3) A doctrine is an official teaching that is believed to come from God.

(4) Human precepts are laws, customs, or traditions that come from human beings, not from God.

(5) To defile means to make something dirty or displeasing to God.

(6) Licentiousness is a desire to do sinful and impure things.

This week’s spotlight

The Jewish rite of hand washing

In the Gospel, the scribes and Pharisees criticized the disciples for not washing their hands before their meal. This handwashing ritual is still very important to Jewish people today. It certainly promotes cleanliness, but more importantly, it symbolically washes away sins. It reminds people to make the effort to do all things out of love and service to God.

Lavabo

In the beginning of the eucharistic liturgy, after the preparation of the bread and the wine for consecration, the priest washes his fingers, saying: "Lord, wash away my iniquity, cleanse me from my sins." We call this part of the Mass the "lavabo" which means "I will wash myself" in Latin. The priest, who is an ordinary, sinful man like the rest of us, asks God to purify him - to wash the sins from his heart and to make him holy so that he may be worthy of offering the body and blood of Christ to the Father. During the Mass, both the priest and people ask God to purify their hearts so that they may be worthy to receive Christ's body in Holy Communion.

Reflection

Appearances can be misleading

In today’s Gospel we listen in on a strange discussion. The scribes and Pharisees are complaining that the disciples of Jesus do not wash their hands before eating a meal. Now, perhaps your parents have often reminded you to wash your hands before eating. Does that mean they’re like the Pharisees? Of course, the answer is no. In the Jewish religion, washing was not just about hygiene, but a sign of purification. The Jews washed their hands as a sign that they had pure hearts and that they were leading holy lives according to the laws of their religion. Jesus makes us understand that real purity or impurity comes from the heart. God isn’t fooled by clean hands and holy words if we think bad thoughts in our hearts. Washing dirt off our hands won’t take away our sinful thoughts and hateful desires. Jesus teaches us that holiness isn’t a matter of how we look, but of who we really are. People usually judge by appearances, but God always looks into the heart.

Discussion questions

1. What did the Pharisees think that Jesus' disciples should be doing?

2. What did they think by doing that?

3. What did Jesus say was more important than washing one's hands and dishes?

4. As Jesus teaching, which one is more important?

Praying after Communion

After receiving Holy Communion, you can say this prayer silently to yourself. If you have not yet received your First Communion, you can still say this prayer because of your desire to receive Jesus.

Father, through Jesus, in communion with the whole Church, I thank you for coming into my heart. Lord, we are so happy to receive the body of Jesus. May this communion help us to love others, and never to judge them by appearances.

Maze Puzzle