Contemplating today's Gospel
Today's Gospel + homily (in 300 words)
»Thus says the Lord: See! I will restore the tents of Jacob, his dwellings I will pity; city shall be rebuilt upon hill, and palace restored as it was. From them will resound songs of praise, the laughter of happy men. I will make them not few, but many; they will not be tiny, for I will glorify them. His sons shall be as of old, his assembly before me shall stand firm; I will punish all his oppressors. His leader shall be one of his own, and his rulers shall come from his kin. When I summon him, he shall approach me; how else should one take the deadly risk of approaching me? says the Lord. You shall be my people, and I will be your God.
Let this be written for the generation to come, and let his future creatures praise the Lord: «The Lord looked down from his holy height, from heaven he beheld the earth, to hear the groaning of the prisoners, to release those doomed to die».
The children of your servants shall abide, and their posterity shall continue in your presence, that the name of the Lord may be declared on Zion; and his praise, in Jerusalem, when the peoples gather together and the kingdoms, to serve the Lord.
He summoned the crowd and said to them, “Hear and understand. It is not what enters one’s mouth that defiles the man; but what comes out of the mouth is what defiles one.” Then his disciples approached and said to him, “Do you know that the Pharisees took offense when they heard what you said?” He said in reply, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted
will be uprooted. Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit.”
“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)
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August 2nd
Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (A)
Gospel and commentary video
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