HOMILY FOR TUESDAY OF THE 5TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR I.
THEME: RIGHTEOUSNESS AND RITUALISM.
BY: Fr. Gerald M. Musa
MARK 7:1-13;
A renowmed spiritual writer CS. Lewis speaks favourably about the significanceh of religious rituals: “The moderm habit of doing ceremonial things unceremoniously is no proof of humility; rather it proves the offender’s inability to forget himself in the rite, and his readiness to spoil for everyone else the proper pleasure of ritual” Jesus did not condemn religious rituals but challenged the Pharisees for their obsessive attention to rituals, and for substituting the substance of religion with mere observations of external rituals and traditions.
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They reduced religion to a public display of pious activities such as fasting, ritual, and cleaning, He said to them, “You leave the commandment of God and hold fast the tradition of men” Mark 7:8). 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.
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” (6:8). What is the purpose of being religious if religion is reduced to mere external rituals or what is the purpose ofreligion ifwe neglect the basic principles of love and justice?
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