The Tradition of the Elders

Today's Reflections 

The Tradition of the Elders

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Mk 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23

¹When the Pharisees with some scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around [Jesus], ²they observed that some of his disciples ate their meals with unclean, that is, unwashed, hands. ³(For the Pharisees and, in fact, all Jews, do not eat without carefully washing their hands, keeping the tradition of the elders. ⁴And 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].) ⁵So 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?” ⁶He 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;

⁷In vain do they worship me,

teaching as doctrines human precepts.’ ⁸You disregard God’s commandment but cling to human tradition.” ¹⁴He summoned the crowd again and said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand. ¹⁵Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person; but the things that come out from within are what defile.”

[He said to his disciples,] ²¹“From within people, from their hearts, come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder, ²²adultery, greed, malice, deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly. ²³All these evils come from within and they defile.”

Reflection:

Their hearts are far from me. The Gospel speaks about Jewish customs and practices that are known as “the tradition of the elders.” The Pharisees teach the literal interpretation and strict observance of these. Following these to the letter, for the Pharisees, is the right way to God. To neglect them is to offend God.

For Jesus instead, what matters is the purity of intentions, what is in one’s heart. Jesus puts more emphasis on caring and concern for the needy. One pleases God not so much by obedience to rules or regulations as by conversion and charity. What counts for God is how much we love and how well we serve. Love should be reason and the basis for our words and actions.

Customs and practices—the tradition of the elders—should lead us to love, not to condemn; to serve, not to lord it over others; to be compassionate, not to blame; to ask forgiveness, not to offer excuses. One is clean before God not because of the observance of ritual washing prescribed or the clean food eaten. Cleanliness is in having a contrite heart and living justly before God.

What is in our hearts?

When we say something or do anything,

let us check our intention or motivation.