Homily (Reflection) for Tuesday of
the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time (I) (7th February, 2017) on the
Gospel
Gen 1:20–2:4;
Ps 8:4-9. (R. v.2);
Mk 7:1-13.
Topic: Our tradition.
Christians are under attack in one way or another in many
parts of the world. Often these attacks are carried out under the pretext of
defending the tradition.
Jesus and His disciples were attacked in today’s gospel by
the Pharisees and the scribes. Their reason was that some of the disciples ate
without first washing their hands according to the tradition of the elders.
They abandoned God’s commandment for human tradition. Jesus
summarized this with a quotation from the prophet Isaiah, “This people honours
me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; in vain do they worship
me, teaching human precepts as doctrines” (Mk
7:6-7; cf. Is 29:13).
Tradition as “a belief, a custom, or way of doing something
that has existed for a long time”[1]
is very good and also necessary. However, tradition is not something static.
Borrowing the words of Archbishop Albert Kenechukwu Obiefuna of the blessed
memory, tradition grows, learns new things, goes to school, and so on. Recall
how we communicated with others that were not living in the same vicinity with
us, how we travelled, how twins were treated, and so on. Today, all these have
changed in most parts of the world for good and their changes have become parts
of traditions.
The problem we have today is not that of tradition but that every
form of idolatry and evil take place in the name of tradition. People have
rejected good aspects of the tradition of our elders like honesty, brotherly
love, and so on to perpetrate evils all in the name of tradition. And this is
what the church as the body of Christ condemns. We must live as God’s children.
Bible Reading: 1Cor 5:11–6:1.
Thought for today: We belong to Christ.
Let us pray: Heavenly Father, assist us to live
as your children – Amen.
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with others if you consider it worthy.
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[1] Longman dictionary of contemporary
English: New edition for advanced learners (2009). Harlow: Pearson Education
Limited.
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