TODAY’S GOSPEL READING
11 FEBRUARY, 2025
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.”
THE GOSPEL OF THE LORD!
REFLECTION
In Mark 7:1-13, Jesus confronts the Pharisees and scribes about their rigid adherence to human traditions, which had overshadowed the true essence of God’s commandments. He exposes their hypocrisy, emphasizing how they prioritize external rituals over the inward purity of the heart. By pointing out their practice of using traditions, such as “Corban,” to evade responsibilities like honoring their parents, Jesus reveals the danger of legalism and the distortion of God’s Word. This passage challenges us to reflect on our own lives—do we sometimes focus on appearances, rituals, or rules at the expense of genuine faith and love? Jesus calls us to live with integrity, letting God’s Word shape our hearts and actions. True worship is not about external conformity but a heart surrendered to God, seeking His will and prioritizing love for Him and others above all.
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, thank You for revealing the importance of a pure heart over empty rituals. Forgive us for the times we have prioritized traditions or appearances over Your commandments of love and faithfulness. Help us to live with integrity, seeking to honor You in both word and deed. Teach us to embrace Your truth and reject anything that distorts or misuses it. May our worship be genuine, and our lives reflect the love and grace You have shown us. Guide us to walk humbly with You, prioritizing Your will over all else. In Jesus’ Name, we pray. Amen
