A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark

“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!”

The Pharisees and scribes notice that the disciples of Jesus eat their meals with unwashed hands and return from the marketplace without purifying themselves, according to tradition. They question why Jesus and his disciples don’t follow tradition, and Jesus responds that they are hypocritical, quoting Isaiah: “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.” Jesus calls them out for playing the system, making clear to them that their hypocrisy is self-serving rather than a means of serving God and others (even their parents).

God, help me understand what Jesus addresses in today’s Gospel. It is not a question of following or not following tradition of the elders that is wrong but setting aside or nullifying the authentic word of God for the sake of selfishness. Lord, help me understand the reality of the choices placed before me today—whether to follow your word and remain singlehearted or to pretend to do something that appears to be good but is actually self-serving. Help me put aside what is hypocritical and be attentive to your will so that I can carry it out.

Lord, you created me in your divine image. Stay with me today as I look beyond traditions or practices or habits that hinder me from being attentive to you; I want to incline my heart to your decrees. Thank you for the Eucharist and the Blessed Sacrament. Let me remember throughout the day the words of Saint John Paul II: “In the Eucharist we have Jesus, we have his redemptive sacrifice, we have his resurrection, we have the gift of the Holy Spirit, we have adoration, obedience and love of the Father. Were we to disregard the Eucharist, how could we overcome our own deficiency?” Be with me, Lord!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

Readings

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