Tuesday: 5^th Week in Ordinary Time-B

I Reading:

Cycle I- Genesis 1:20-2:4: Let us make man in our own image, in the likeness of ourselves.

Cycle II-1Kings 8:22-23.27-30: You have said, “My name shall be there.” Here the entreaty of your people Israel.

Gospel: Mark 7:1-13: You put aside the commandment of God to cling to human traditions.

The Emptiness of (Man-Made) Tradition, Ritual, Ceremony, Works

This passage is very important and critical for the destiny of both man/woman and religion. Why it is important? Because neither man nor religion can survive being institutionalized, that is, being based and focuses upon tradition, ritual, ceremony and works. Survival depends upon the hearts of man and of religion. The heart of both must be focus upon acceptance and reconciliation, approval and redemption, peace and love, humility and giving, joy and hope. Man/woman can survive only when they.......

·       Accept each other and reconciled to God in Christ (together).

·       Approve each other and are redeemed.

·       Live in peace and love.

·       Experience the joy and hope of Christ.

·       Walk humbly and live a life of service. You can go on add your own good thoughts..

1.    The religionists found fault with Jesus’ disciples (v.1-5)

a.    A fact-finding commission from Jerusalem

b.    The fault: Eating with unwashed and unclean hands

i.                The tradition of cleanliness explained

ii.              Tradition illustrated

c.     The charge against the disciples was brought to Jesus

2.    Tradition can be hypocritical honor (v.6)

3.    Tradition can be empty and worthless worship (v.7)

4.    Tradition can be man-made commandments (v.8)

5.    Tradition can be kept before the commandments of God (v.9-12).

a.    They twisted God’s commands

b.    They insisted on obedience to tradition

6.    Tradition can nullify (abolish) the Word of God or make the Word of God ineffective.

Thought: A hypocrite gives lip service while keeping his heart far from God. Jesus says they are hypocrites because their heart is not God’s. They refuse to personally accept Jesus as the Son of God, the Messiah and Saviour of the world. They do not know God personally, not in the depths of their heart (John 14:6)

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