BREAKING THE BREAD OF THE WORD (# 40)
22th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B
BIBLE READINGS
Dt 4:1-2, 6-8 // Jas 1:17-18, 21b-22, 27 // Mk 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23
The Gospel reading of this Sunday reminds me of a very amusing story about the Guru’s cat (cf. Anthony De Mello, The Song of the Bird, New York: Doubleday, 1982, p. 63). A prescription that is contingent on a particularly mischievous cat became codified and ritualized.
“When the guru sat down to worship each evening the ashram cat would get in the way and distract the worshippers. So he ordered that the cat be tied during evening worship. After the guru died the cat continued to be tied during evening worship. And when the cat expired, another cat was brought to the ashram so that it could be duly tied during evening worship. Centuries later learned treatises were written by the guru’s scholarly disciples on the liturgical significance of tying up a cat while worship is performed.”
Today’s Gospel passage speaks of human traditions and prescriptions that have been codified and made binding for the people of God, for example, ritual washing of the hands, the purification of cups and jugs and kettles and beds, dietary legislations, etc. Last Sunday’s ritornello was Simon Peter’s avowal of faith in Jesus: “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life” (Jn 6:68). Against this backdrop, the unmitigated legalism of the Pharisees and scribes seems pathetic. They have not adhered to Jesus who has “the words of eternal life”, but have chosen instead to bind themselves to human prescriptions that cannot give life nor refresh the soul. In their rejection of Jesus Christ, the Bread of revelation and the wisdom of God, they have disregarded the life-giving divine Word. They have sought salvation in the rigorous observance of what is merely human invention. Therefore, Jesus’ indicted them vigorously: “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” (Mk 7:6-7).
According to Harold Buetow, “It is always tempting to confuse human codes of law with God’s law. Human laws provide, at best, only a part of God’s law. The codes of law in Scriptures were written for specific people and in specific circumstances. They provide basics, but form only a part of God’s law; God’s law is wider, deeper, longer, and higher than any code of laws written for human guidance. Law codes in the Bible serve three effective functions: they show in microcosm God’s word; they provide guidelines to God’s people; they drive God’s people to realize their need of God’s grace.”
Jesus lambasted his opponents for following the letter of man-made laws and not the spirit that animate them. They have lost sight of the Word of God as the true law that refreshes the soul. Indeed, the true meaning of God’s commands is to give life. The sweet yoke of God’s law is meant to focus our attention on the living Word of God, Jesus Christ, the Bread of revelation offered to us by the Father for the life of the world. Jesus, the Wisdom of God and the crystallization of the divine law of love, is the authoritative interpreter of the Law and the fulfillment of the life-giving meaning of God’s commands.
The biblical scholar, Eugene Maly comments: “God has revealed himself in history as a loving, saving God. If we respond to this God and accept his love, we will act properly. When we can say with conviction that no other god has shown himself as our God has to us, then we will follow his statutes and decrees, because we know they are for our good.” The person who loves Christ and is nourished by the Bread of his Word focuses on following the divine will and cannot be defiled from within. The words and deeds of that person, marked by personal dedication and self-giving, evince a life of loving relationship with God, the author of life.
In his commentary on this Sunday’s Gospel passage, Philip Van Linden concludes: “It is one’s actions, inspired from within, that show when a person is not living according to God’s commands. Mark hopes that his readers will look to the various ways they are living in relationship with others to see if they are responding to God ‘from within’ (with their whole being) or merely with lip service (with superficial nods to tradition). Indeed, this is the challenge that is addressed to the celebrating community today: “Do we live according to God’s commands?”
III. PRAYING WITH THE WORD
(Based on Psalm 15 and John 6:68)
Leader: The law of Yahweh is perfect, new life for the soul; the decree of Yahweh is trustworthy, wisdom for the simple.
Assembly: “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life?”
Leader: The precepts of Yahweh are upright, joy for the heart; the commandment of Yahweh is clear, light for the eyes.
Assembly: “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life?”
Leader: More desirable than gold, even than the finest gold; his words are sweeter than honey, even than honey that drips from the comb.
Assembly: “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life?”
The following is the bread of the living Word that will nourish us throughout the week. Please memorize it.
“You disregard God’s commandment but cling to human tradition … Hear me, all of you, and understand.” (Mk 7:8, 14)
V. TOWARDS LIFE TRANSFORMATION
Prepared by: Sr. Mary Margaret Tapang, PDDM