Word to the Wise
Tuesday, February 6, 2018 - Tuesday in the 5th Week in Ordinary Time
[1 Kgs 8:22-23, 27-30 and Mark 7:1-13]TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2018. ST. PAUL MIKI AND COMPANIONS (Jesuit martyrs in Japan) [1 Kings 8:22-23, 27-30 and Mark 7:1-13] "You disregard God's commandment but cling to human tradition.....You nullify the word of God in favor of your tradition that you have handed on. And you do many such things." [Mark] In this very pointed scene, Jesus responds to a criticism leveled at his disciples that they failed to follow "the tradition of the elders but instead eat a meal with unclean hands." Now most of us can remember our parents demanding that we wash our hands before sitting down for a meal! But in the case of the scribes and Pharisees, this was as important as eating the meal. It had a ritual significance. Jesus accuses them of making a human tradition equal with God's law, and in some cases they used the law against itself. He cites the practice of dedicating resources in such a way that support of parents (a sacred duty) was nullified. Each time I read this passage, I am reminded of the many traditions that are part of Catholic observance and etiquette. There is a classic question: Why do Catholics do that? Another version of the question often comes from an "elder Catholic": Why don't people do such and such any more in church? These traditions often have their roots in standards of reverence which can change with time. Interestingly enough, I am seeing university students recovering some of these traditions! Where one must be careful is not to make the judgment that if someone does NOT follow these observances, one is not a good Catholic! Or, if someone forgets to do a part of a devotion, that devotion is thereby "invalid." Our faith does not depend on human traditions. The Sacraments require that certain minimal actions occur, such as water and the Trinitarian words in the Sacrament of Baptism. The surrounding rituals such as candles, anointing, white garment, etc. are designed to bring out the significance of the occasion, but the sacrament itself is accomplished in the water and those words. Any ritual action should be susceptible to the question: "Why are we doing this?" There may be very good and valid reasons, but questioning someone's faith when they omit or forget a gesture is to be avoided! AMEN
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