Contemplating today's Gospel
Today's Gospel + homily (in 300 words)
Then God said, «Let the earth bring forth all kinds of living creatures: cattle, creeping things, and wild animals of all kinds». And so it happened: God made all kinds of wild animals, all kinds of cattle, and all kinds of creeping things of the earth. God saw how good it was.
Then God said: «Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. Let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and the cattle, and over all the wild animals and all the creatures that crawl on the ground». God created man in his image; in the divine image he created him; male and female he created them. God blessed them, saying: «Be fertile and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it. Have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and all the living things that move on the earth». God also said: «See, I give you every seed-bearing plant all over the earth and every tree that has seed-bearing fruit on it to be your food; and to all the animals of the land, all the birds of the air, and all the living creatures that crawl on the ground, I give all the green plants for food». And so it happened. God looked at everything he had made, and he found it very good. Evening came, and morning followed–the sixth day.
Thus the heavens and the earth and all their array were completed. Since on the seventh day God was finished with the work he had been doing, he rested on the seventh day from all the work he had undertaken. So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work he had done in creation. Such is the story of the heavens and the earth at their creation.
You have made him little less than the angels, and crowned him with glory and honor. You have given him rule over the works of your hands, putting all things under his feet.
All sheep and oxen, yes, and the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, the fishes of the sea, and whatever swims the paths of the seas.
So 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?” He 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; In vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines human precepts. You disregard God’s commandment but cling to human tradition.” He went on to say, “How well you have set aside the commandment of God in order to uphold your tradition! For Moses said, Honor your father and your mother, and Whoever curses father or mother shall die. Yet you say, ‘If someone says to father or mother, “Any support you might have had from me is qorban”’ (meaning, dedicated to God), you allow him to do nothing more for his father or mother. You nullify the word of God in favor of your tradition that you have handed on. And you do many such things.”
“Why do your disciples not follow the tradition of the elders?”
Fr. Iñaki BALLBÉ i Turu (Terrassa, Barcelona, Spain)Today, we are given to see how some late traditions of the Masters of the Law had actually manipulated the true meaning of the Fourth Commandment of God's Law. Those scribes taught that sons offering money and goods to the Temple were doing well. But, according to these teachings, parents could no longer ask or dispose of these goods. And the sons educated in such conscience were, thus, under the wrong impression of having certainly satisfied the demands of the Fourth Commandment. But, in fact, it was just a deception.
“How well you have set aside the commandment of God in order to uphold your tradition!” (Mk 7:9): Jesus Christ is the authentic interpreter of Divine Law; this is why He explained the right meaning of the Fourth Commandment, by undoing the sad mistake of their Jewish fanaticism.
“For Moses said, Honor your father and your mother” (Mk 7:10): The Fourth Commandment reminds all sons and daughters the responsibilities they have with their parents. They have to help them, both morally and materially, to the best of their possibilities, during their aging days, and when they are facing times of illness, loneliness or anguish. Jesus points out quite clearly this duty of gratitude.
The respect towards our elders (filial piety) is made out of the gratitude they deserve for the gift they have given us, i.e. our life, and the sacrifices made for their children to grow up in age, wisdom and grace. “With your whole heart honor your father; your mother’s birth pangs do not forget. Remember, of these parents you were born; what can you give them for all they gave you?” (Sir 7:27-28).
The Lord honors the father in His children, and in them, also confirms the mother's right. “He who honors his father atones for sins; he obeys the Lord who brings comfort to his mother” (cf. Sir 3:2-6). These and other words of advice are a clear light for our life in relation to our parents. Let us ask our Lord the grace that we never lack the true love we owe our parents, and that we know how to transmit this sweet “obligation” to our neighbor by our example.
Thoughts on Today's Gospel
“Many times, they put forward the appearance of justice, with no concern for conscience. For those who love God, it is enough to please the one whom they love, for no greater reward can be sought than this love.” (Saint Leo the Great)
“Let us ask the Lord, through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin, to give us a pure heart, free from all hypocrisy, thus we will be able to live according to the spirit of the law and accomplish its aim, which is love.” (Francis)
“The fourth commandment reminds grown children of their responsibilities toward their parents. As much as they can, they must give them material and moral support in old age and in times of illness, loneliness, or distress. Jesus recalls this duty of gratitude.” (Catechism Of The Catholic Church, Nº 2218)
