Fr. Gerald musa homily for Tuesday of 5th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle II (1)
Fr. Gerald musa homily for Tuesday of 5th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle II
Theme: Righteousness and Ritualism
By: Fr. Gerald M. Musa
Homily for Tuesday February 8 2022
Righteousness is acting according to divine laws and ritualism is an obsessive attention to rituals.
*** ALTERNATE CROPPING OF LDC105 *** Pope Benedict XVI, wearing sun glasses, and his personal secretary Georg Gaenswein, right, and his personal assistant Angelo Gugel, left, walk on a bridge of the Centro Cadore's lake in Domegge, Lorenzago di Cadore, near Belluno, Italy, Monday, July 23, 2007. Benedict arrived from his monastic-like vacation to bless the faithful at his secluded mountain retreat in Italy's Dolomite mountains. Benedict plans to stay in Lorenzago, near Italy's border with Austria, until July 27, when he moves to the papal summer retreat at Castel Gandolfo, in the hills south Rome. (AP Photo/Alessia Giuliani/Pool)
Fr. Gerald musa homily for Tuesday of 5th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle II
Theme: Righteousness and Ritualism
By: Fr. Gerald M. Musa
Homily for Tuesday February 8 2022
Righteousness is acting according to divine laws and ritualism is an obsessive attention to rituals. Jesus challenged the Pharisees and scribes who substitute the substance of religion with a mere observation of external rituals and traditions. They reduced religion into a mere public display of pious activities such as fasting, ritual cleaning, and the like. He said to them, “You leave the commandment of God and hold fast the tradition of men” (Mark 7:8). He described them as those who worship God with only lips, but with hearts far away from Him. It is much easier to obey rituals than to live a life of righteousness. Jesus made them understand that true religion consists of the transformation of mind, heart, and attitude. Jesus did not condemn tradition, but he condemned the hypocrisy of those who called themselves custodians of tradition. Tradition and rituals are supposed to draw us nearer to God and not far away from Him. Any tradition or ritual that opposes, undermines, or comes in conflict with the word of God is valueless. Ancient prophets such as Micah preached about the essence of religion which is “To do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8). What is the purpose of being religious if it is reduced to mere external rituals or what is the purpose of religion if we neglect the basic principles of love and justice?
Mark 7:1-13; Tuesday, 5th Week
