In Jesus’ time, the Pharisees, who were laymen, were looked upon as religious leaders of the Jews. They enjoyed a reputation for keeping the law. They were the ‘guardians’ of the law. Jesus himself recognises their position, though he warns the people about the Pharisees’ hypocrisy: they preach, but they do not practice the law. Today’s Gospel reading focuses on the dispute between Jesus and the scribes and Pharisees who come from Jerusalem. Jesus’ fame has attracted the attention of these leaders from the Holy City. These rabbis do not look kindly upon Galileans who, they believe, are not strict in their observance of the law. They come to hear Jesus, not with the open minds of potential believers, but as critics and the judiciary. They observe closely his words and actions and those of his disciples. Soon enough they see things to criticise. They notice that Jesus does not seem to care whether his disciples abide by or disregard the law and the tradition of the elders. Some of Jesus’ disciples do not wash their hands as dictated by the tradition. The Pharisees believe that this is compulsory, but Jesus’ disciples fail to follow it. And this, they hold against Jesus.
In reply, Jesus shows up the scribes and Pharisees for what they are: hypocrites. They profess to honour God, but they are merely paying him lip service: they teach the law yet fail to understand what is at its heart. While they accuse the disciples of ‘defilement,’ they do not realise that they themselves are defiled by their thoughts and desires. Their ritual purification does not help them at all.
- William Barclay shares a story that sheds some light on this matter: An old Rabbi was put in a Roman Prison and received a regular ration of food and water. As time passed, he was observed to be losing his strength. Baffled, if not concerned, the prison officials called a doctor. The doctor diagnosed the patient as suffering from dehydration. The prison officials could not understand how this came about. They believed that the Rabbi’s ration of drinking water was quite adequate. The guards were told to watch the old man closely to see what he did with his ration of water. It was then that then that the puzzle was solved. The guards saw the Rabbi performing the religious ritual of washing before he prayed and ate. As a result, he had very little water left for drinking.
Not many people compare holiness with following tradition. And this is like having an incredibly long ‘TO DO’ list: recite the Rosary, pray the Angelus and Novenas, read the Bible, attend the Mass, wear Crosses, contribute to Charities. We are in serious trouble if we think that the only way to please God is to observe these rituals – or that we sin when we do not abide by these. Even as these rituals are not to be disregarded, Jesus tells us that true worship of God is a loving and intimate relationship with him. And from this comes the joy and the readiness to serve him. Today’s Gospel is all about taking the risk, like the Rabbi, living on the edge.
- There is a beautiful story told about a young seagull’s first flight. Safe in the cliff nest, high over the sea, he refused to fly. His brothers and sisters already made the jump and were enjoying life. He’d take a little run to the edge of the nest, flap his wings, look down and get afraid. The sea was miles below. He felt his wings would never support him. He turned his head, went back into his little hold and rested…The mother teased the seagull out of the nest with hunger. She kept dangling a piece of fish in front of him until he jumped. With a loud scream he fell downwards into space. His mother swooped near him. He heard the swish of her wings. He was in terror but only for a moment. Next, his wings spread outward. The wind rushed against his breast feathers, under his stomach, against his wings. He wasn’t falling now but soaring with delight.
Jesus takes many a risk for the love of us. We must do the same for him. As the late Archbishop Oscar Romero once said: "We all have to stop and think. We are all guilty!"