Meditation: Mark 7:1-13
5th Week in Ordinary Time
Honor your father and your mother. (Mark 7:10)
Have you ever bitten into a cream-filled donut only to find that there is no filling? It’s a pretty disappointing experience, isn’t it? That donut looked so good, but it was actually hollow.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus was trying to help some Pharisees recognize something lacking in their approach to following the Law of Moses. Their traditions and purification rituals looked very nice, but they were hollow. Like that elusive cream filling, something was missing that should have been at the heart of their observances—love.
Now, of all the examples that Jesus could have picked to highlight this hypocrisy, he chose the way some people used legal loopholes to get out of taking care of their aging parents. Once again, Jesus placed the spotlight on family life—that’s how precious it is to him.
Family is central to God’s plan for us. God himself is a communion of Persons. He made a covenant, not only with Abraham, but with all of his descendants as well. Even Jesus was born into a human family! These Pharisees may have been pursuing purity, but by disregarding the value of family love, they missed their goal by a long shot.
We may not be neglecting our parents, but it’s still easy to lose sight of how important our families are. We get busy and work long hours, which makes it difficult to share family meals. Or we might be overcommitted with school or church activities, so we don’t have much time at home together. Or maybe our parents live in another city, and it’s difficult to keep in touch.
God knows the challenges that we face. He doesn’t want us to quit our jobs or not be involved at church. But he does want us to find ways, in the midst of all the other things vying for our attention, to protect and nurture our family relationships.
Take a few moments right now to pray for your family. Tell God how much you love them and treasure them. Ask him to help you find ways to strengthen the bonds within your home. God knows that things can get in the way, and that’s okay. Just bringing your family to mind and praying for them is a great first step!
“Lord, help me to treasure my family relationships.”
Genesis 1:20–2:4
Psalm 8:4-9
http://wau.org/meditations/current/
Saint Pio of Pietralcina "Padre Pio" (1887-1968)
Capuchin T. 74; CE, 39-40
"This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me"
Prayer is a heart to heart with God... Prayer that has been carried out well touches God's heart and prompts him to answer us. When we pray, let it be our whole being that turns towards God: our thoughts, our heart... The Lord will be moved to incline towards us and come to our help...
Pray and hope. Do not get upset; worrying doesn't help. God is merciful and will hear your prayer. Prayer is our best weapon; it is the key that opens God's heart. You need to speak to Jesus less with your lips than with your heart.