22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time - B - August 30, 2015

Why do your disciples ignore the ways of

our ancestors and eat with unclean hands?

Tradition and habit set boundaries for our existence. They are ways to keep us on a road to God. Unfortunately, they can also take on a life of their own, and restrict intimacy with the divine. Jesus decried “dead traditions” that became important in and of themselves. He pointed to that which was greater.

MP3 PODCAST: In this week’s audio podcast, Jesus criticized the Pharisees, who confused custom with God’s will. Intent, not behavior alone, focuses the morality of an action.

FIRST READING: Deuteronomy presented the challenge Moses placed before the people. There were many temptations to gape the customs of the peoples that surrounded the Israelites. Would they remain faithful to YHWH of not?

PSALM Psalm 15 was a communal hymn of forgiveness. The sinner was readmitted to Temple worship after his reaffirmation of the Law and its duties.

SECOND READING: St. James wrote his famous epistle, not necessarily to counter St. Paul’s distinction between “Faith vs.works,” but to maintain that living a faith-filled life meant living a moral life. Faith does not excuse one from duty to neighbor.

GOSPEL: In Mark 7, Jesus was embroiled in a controversy with the Pharisees. How should a Jew prepare for a religious meal? This was a fight between intention and behavior that struck at the heart of the “Kosher.”

CHILDREN’S READINGS: In the story for the first reading, George and John were friends, but fiercely competitive. In the first game of the soccer season, they faced off on opposing teams. John slid-tackled George when he was on a break away. Was this fair? Did it break the rules? How are we to treat others, fairly or just within the rules? In the story for the gospel, Jerry and Linda fought over family dining traditions. Ultimately, the children’s Mother asked, “Why do we have or break tradition?” Jesus answered that question correctly. We don’t have traditions for their own sake, but as a means to help others.

FAMILY ACTIVITY: At your next family meal, discuss the reasons you pray together. Prayer and family traditions are meant to be a means to God and fellowship, not just a habit we take for granted.