James 1:22

In today’s’ gospel lesson we are introduced to a debate between Jesus and the Pharisees on some of the religious traditions of the time. Now, there is nothing wrong with being a traditionalist. Jesus was a traditionalist in His religious practices. He read the scriptures. He worshiped and even preached in the synagogue. As a child, He had been circumcised and presented in the Temple according to the Jewish tradition. And yet, His fidelity to tradition was constantly being challenged by the Pharisees. In today’s gospel, they are at it again.

As you know, the Hebrew traditions contained a great many dietary laws and customs, among which was the custom of scrupulously washing one’s hands before eating. “Why do your Disciples not respect the tradition of the elders, but eat their food with unclean hands?” the Pharisees demanded of Jesus. His reply was, “It was of you hypocrites that Isaiah so rightly prophesied in this passage of scripture: “This people honors me only with lip-service, while their hearts are far from me”. (MK. 7: 5-6). Jesus knew that the Pharisees were using tradition to serve their own ends (in this instance, to gather evidence that Jesus was a law-breaker). Jesus had often taught that there are times when laws and traditions can become obstacles to justice and equity and decency in human relationships. Consequently, they are subject to development…enrichment…and sometimes even abandonment. Actually, the merits of purification laws are not an issue here, as far as Jesus is concerned. What is at issue is the Pharisees’ insincerity. They were out to get Jesus by any means. They were degrading the law, actually, by using it as a tool, a tactic to commit murder. Jesus knew this and He spoke out against their hypocrisy.

The word “religion” is derived from the Latin word, “religare”, which means “to bind tightly”. We are a religious people because we are bound tightly to a religious tradition. We are conservatives because our chief goal in life is to “keep the faith”, to preserve—conserve—that which has been handed down to us. At the same time, we are reformists who take seriously the words of the apostle James: “Be doers of the Word and not hearers only, deluding yourselves.”

Let us be authentic Christians by observing the traditions of the church when they benefit us spiritually and morally. But, let us also be realistic, by not clinging to out-dated traditions when they no longer serve the purpose of following Christ.

Fr. Hugh Duffy, Pastor