Tuesday – 5th Week in Ordinary Time

Gospel – Mark 7:1-13

Wash Your Hands!

Jordan River, Caesarea Philippi

Looking back when we were in the middle of Covid and all its restrictions, I never would have imagined that “Did you wash your hand?”  would have become a part of my (our) daily routine again after all these years.  Back when I was little, I heard it before every meal and, I admit, I was not always conscientious with the ‘washing’ part.  It was more like a quick run of a few drops of water in the vicinity of my fingers.  Sorry, Mom!

Throughout the shutdown, we got into the routine of washing/sanitizing our hands as soon as we returned home from shopping or whatever.  I also got rather tired of singing ‘happy birthday’ at the same time.  I may not have always gotten the point when I was little but I certainly understood the importance of washing and sanitizing during the pandemic.  It’s more than just keeping up appearances; there was a deeper meaning.

That is exactly what the Pharisees in today’s Gospel don’t get! They are so incensed that the disciples don’t always wash their hands before meals as the Law provides.  They are so focused on the letter of the Law that they seem to have forgotten the meaning behind it. 

As Jesus says: “This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.”   They are only concerned with appearances and have lost the spirit of the Law. 

I doubt that, as children, we realized that our dirty fingers could taint the food for others.  But we certainly understand it today – what we do as individuals affects others!  Washing hands is just one outward physical sign.  What comes from the heart is our concern for others, our compassion for our neighbor, our realization that what I do really does have an effect on others.

So even though I have to be reminded (nagged) at times, I will wash my hands more often and more conscientiously simply because it’s not just a silly rule.  It’s not just about me and it’s not just about going through the motions.  It’s not just about washing hands; it’s about recognizing the deeper meaning of our religious rituals. It’s about thankful and loving hearts and not merely physical appearances.

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