Gospel of Mark, chapter 7:15

Two monks were walking down a muddy road on a rainy day. They came upon a lovely young girl dressed in fine silk, who was afraid to cross because of the flood and the mud. “Come on, girl,” said Brother Francis. And he hoisted her up in his strong arms, and carried her across the river. The two monks walked on in silence till they reached the monastery. Then the elder monk couldn’t bear it any longer. “Monks shouldn’t go near young girls,” he said, “certainly not beautiful ones like that one! Why did you do it?” “Dear brother,” said Brother Francis, “I put the girl down by the river bank, but you have brought her into the monastery.”

In these two monks we see the two often conflicting approaches to Christian spirituality: mystic withdrawal and active involvement. The spirituality of mystic withdrawal emphasizes the devout fulfillment of pious obligations, and shuns away from those regarded as sinners for fear of being contaminated by them. It aims at keeping the believer unstained by the world, but not at changing the world with the leaven of the gospel. The spirituality of the active apostolate; on the other hand, emphasizes solidarity with sinners, who are often perceived as the outcasts of the world. It does not shun but it extends a helping hand to them, believing that it is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness. True spirituality consists in reconciling these two tendencies and bringing them into harmony.

In today’s gospel story (Mark 7: 1-15), the Pharisees and the scribes speak for the spirituality of withdrawal. Their focus is on ritual observances. Their complaint about the disciples eating with unwashed hands had nothing to do with personal hygiene. They were interested in the ritual washing of hands which a custom was meant to avoid the impurity of outsiders from contaminating them. Jesus defended His followers: “Listen to me, all of you, and understand: there is nothing that goes into the person from the outside that makes him unclean; rather it is what comes out of a person that makes him unclean.” (Mark 7: 14-15).

In this one single sentence Jesus demolished the emphasis on the works of the law. Gentiles do not defile Jews any more than Jews defile Gentiles. Nothing and nobody outside a person can defile a person. If someone or something repels you, chances are you are the source of the repulsion in the first place. You need look no further than within your own heart and soul. A clean-minded person sees nothing but cleanness everywhere, in everything and in everyone. Did not Jesus say in one of the beatitudes: “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. (Matthew 5:8). No wonder Jesus did not hesitate to touch a leper, to eat with sinners and to let an “unclean” woman touch him. He got so involved with sinners and outcasts that people called him “a friend of tax collectors and sinners” (Matthew 11:9).

This is a good time to examine your spirituality. Do you cultivate a spirituality of withdrawal like the elder monk who would leave a small girl out in the cold for the sake of keeping some man-made rule? Or do you cultivate a practical spirituality like Brother Francis who reaches out to all those in need?

Fr. Hugh Duffy