Deut. 4:1-2,6-8 Psalm 15 James 1:17-18,21-22,27 Mark 7:1-8,14-15,21-23 WORD OF TRUTH “ROAD CLOSED! BRIDGE OUT! TURN AROUND!” Important - indeed rather critical - warnings, you might say. And it would be foolish not to heed them. The Lord has given us the same kind of critical warnings in his statutes and decrees – what Scripture calls a “word of truth.” Jesus reiterates this in the gospel, along with a “course correction” regarding which commands are more serious and which are “human tradition.”
DEUTERONOMY Today’s first reading is taken from Moses’ farewell address to the Israelites. He enjoins them to observe the Lord’s statutes and decrees. Moses lays great stress on obeying the commandments of the Lord exactly - neither adding to them nor subtracting from them. Moses presents the Lord’s law as an expression of the Lord’s love and favor toward his chosen people. Israel’s observing the commandments will cause the other nations to admire them and say: “This great nation is truly a wise and intelligent people.” That is a consistent message in the Old Testament – keeping the law of the Lord brings much wisdom! GOSPEL In today’s gospel from Mark, the Pharisees and scribes are criticizing Jesus’ disciples for not washing their hands before eating. (As a kid, I remember having to endure this same sort of criticism!) Jesus uses this occasion to deliver a “course correction,” a word of truth regarding the difference between God’s commandments and human tradition. He spells out some things that “come from within,” which truly defile a person: “unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly.” That’s quite an assortment of sins, which would make for a good examination of conscience! It is noteworthy that three of these are sexual sins, a topic almost never preached about today. Jesus had no such hesitation, however, because the consequences could not be more serious. JAMES The second reading is from the beginning of the Letter of James, a very practical epistle with a strong concentration on “the word of truth.” We are brought to birth by the word of truth. We are to humbly welcome the word planted in us to save our souls. We are to be “doers of the word and not hearers only.” James tells us that our religion has to be practical: “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained by the world.” LIVING THE WORD OF TRUTH Jesus said that he did not come to abolish the law or the prophets, but to fulfill them (cf. Matt. 5:17). Jesus said that he did not come to judge the world but to save the world (cf. John 12:47). But then Jesus also said: “He who rejects me and does not receive my sayings has a judge; the word that I have spoken will be his judge on the last day” (John 12:48). Jesus came to bring us the “word of truth.” In some ways, his message could be paraphrased as “Road closed! Bridge out! Turn around!” It would be foolish – worse than foolish – not to take heed and obey.