In today’s Gospel, Jesus uses the occasion of the accusation of the Pharisees against his disciples to teach them about the real meaning of religious traditions and spirituality. The Pharisees who are scrupulously observant of every tiny bit of their rituals and traditions complain to Jesus about the disciples not washing their hands before eating. Washing of the hands is purely hygienic and it has nothing to do with spirituality. But they do not look into the meanings of these rituals. All these externals are important for them since they see in the strict observance of these rituals a religiously well observant Jew.
Jesus makes them see that these are ritual have no religious implications. What is important is not what one does externally but what one does feel in one’s heart. One can observe these rituals but can be ruthlessly cruel and unreligious. Citing the words from the Prophet Isaiah, he shows them how hypocritical and unspiritual they are if there is no love of God in their hearts. If one loves God, it would necessarily mean that one would be reverent and respectful to one’s neighbors.
Jesus lets them know about the hypocrisy hidden in their rules and rituals. The commandments of God are set aside for the commandments of men. God has asked them to honor their parents. But they have devised rules to circumvent the meaning of the commandment of God. What they are doing through their traditions and rules is trying to annihilate the very meaning of the commandment of God. The observance of the commandment of God is the most important things in one’s life. Jesus tells the disciples what is important is what comes out of the heart of man. It is the spiritual transformation that happens in the depths of our souls that makes real changes in our lives. The evil thoughts in our hearts produce evil actions. If we are loving, forgiving and merciful in our hearts, our actions would also reflect them.
These words of Jesus to the Pharisees and the disciples have great relevance for us. We often think about our spiritual lives and wonder whether what we are doing externally through our pious devotions do make us the real followers of Christ. We are also reminded by our Lord today that what is important in our lives are not pious acts and devotions which have no inner meaning but real changes happening in our lives through love and forgiveness .One who forgives those who have hurt and reaches out to them and helps them becomes the real disciple of Jesus. In our personal lives, when we forgive and be merciful, we become spiritually richer and blessed by God. Inner spiritual transformation based on love, forgiveness and mercy is what is important before the Lord.
As we listen to these words of Jesus, let us ask ourselves how spiritually transformed we are, and how merciful and forgiving we are.
Today is the day for us to reach out and forgive and reaffirm our love totally for the Lord.
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