Gospel Reflection For The 6th day of February in the year of Our Lord, 2024
Gospel
Mark 7:1-13
1 And there assembled together unto him the Pharisees and some of the scribes, coming from Jerusalem. 2 And when they had seen some of his disciples eat bread with common, that is, with unwashed hands, they found fault. 3 For the Pharisees, and all the Jews eat not without often washing their hands, holding the tradition of the ancients: 4 And when they come from the market, unless they be washed, they eat not: and many other things there are that have been delivered to them to observe, the washings of cups and of pots, and of brazen vessels, and of beds. 5 And the Pharisees and scribes asked him: Why do not thy disciples walk according to the tradition of the ancients, but they eat bread with common hands?
6 But he answering, said to them: Well did Isaias prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. 7 And in vain do they worship me, teaching doctrines and precepts of men. 8 For leaving the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men, the washing of pots and of cups: and many other things you do like to these. 9 And he said to them: Well do you make void the commandment of God, that you may keep your own tradition. 10 For Moses said: Honour thy father and thy mother; and He that shall curse father or mother, dying let him die.
11 But you say: If a man shall say to his father or mother, Corban, (which is a gift,) whatsoever is from me, shall profit thee. 12 And further you suffer him not to do any thing for his father or mother, 13 Making void the word of God by your own tradition, which you have given forth. And many other such like things you do.
Again, we find Jesus openly defying the Mosaic or Torah Law. This was scandal and heresy for religious Jews. Very often, online, I am confronted by so called “Torah Observant Christians” who clam that Christians must observe Torah Law to the letter, as described in the Books of Moses, and especially Leviticus. Honestly, I do not understand this. It is almost as if they begin reading the Bible, but get little further than the Old Testament. I quote to them the words of Jesus and the Apostles, who state firmly that Christians are not under the Law and, more than that, we are told by Saint Paul and others that we must reject the “Judaisers” and all who insist on the religious requirements of Judaism and drive them from our midst. Frankly, such people cannot seem to defend their own beliefs without taking scriptural verses so out of context as to render them ridiculous. But, they are sure of two things, they are right and Catholics are most certainly wrong… never mind that their doctrine not only disagrees with the words of Jesus but is outright condemned in the Bible by the holy Apostles!
Is it not wonderful that we, as Catholics have the fullness of the Truth and never have to wonder? Jesus Christ, our Lord founded the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church and guaranteed it against all error. He said, “Those who hear you hear me and those who reject you reject Him who sent me.” We never have to search the Scriptures and pray to know what is true and right. We have only to follow God and His Church. As our Lord said, His yoke is light. Freed from the Law and all worry, we have only to live as faithful Catholics. If we follow the teachings of the Church and receive the sacraments, in good conscience and striving to avoid sin, we have the surest, easiest way to Heaven. Jesus said, “Those who love me follow my commandments.” Our human nature is to constantly fall into sin and battle confusion and pride. Jesus gave us His priests to forgive our sins. He taught us how to pray. He gave us His body and blood through which we may receive His eternal life and holiness. It is all so easy that those outside the Church cannot help but doubt it… just as did the Pharisees who honored God with their lips but could not understand the simple and profound Truth.
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Gospel passages are taken from the Douay Rheims Bible.