22B, SUNDAY HOMILY, MARK 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23. Sept. 1, 2024
1. STORY
An elderly rabbi
who was in prison was given enough water and food each day to survive. As time passed, the rabbi grew weaker and
weaker. Finally, it was necessary to
call a doctor. The problem was diagnosed
as dehydration, not enough water. The
guards were told to watch the elderly man closely to see what he was doing with
the water. The guards discovered that
the rabbi was using almost all his water to perform religious ritual washings
before he prayed and before he ate. As a
result, he had little water left to drink. He misused the precious water.
2. GOSPEL, MARK
7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23
A. WHAT IS NOT
IMPORTANT
Jesus tells us
that what is important for some people is to follow human traditions. What is important is a person’s exterior. “They observed the purification of cups and
jugs and kettles and beds. They were
concerned with a person’s exterior. Jesus
said that this was not important.
B. WHAT IS
IMPORTANT
Jesus tells us
that what is important is to obey God’s commandments. What is important is to clean our hearts. Get rid of “evil thoughts, unchastity, theft,
murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy,
arrogance, folly.” Jesus teaches us what
is important is a person’s heart, his inner self.
3. APPLICATION TO
LIFE
We are blessed because Jesus has told us what is important in life. What is important in life is to love God, love our neighbor, and to love ourselves.
A. LOVE GOD
We love God by
obeying his commandments. I n the Our Father, we pray that “your will be done.”
We love God by giving him our time by
praying daily and going to Sunday Mass.
B. LOVE YOUR
NEIGHBOR
We love our
neighbor by being kind to others in our speech and by showing respect for them.
We love our neighbor by being helpful to
those in need.
C. LOVE OURSELVES
We love ourselves
by caring for our physical health by eating proper foods, getting enough rest,
and learning how to relax in our busy lives. We love ourselves when we care for our
spiritual health, when we are aware that God cares, loves, and helps us in our
difficulties. God is always with us
helping us to carry our crosses. We are
not alone.
4. CONCLUSION
The rabbi misused
the precious water to do something which was not essential. He should have used the water for maintaining
his health. The Pharisees and scribes
placed their own traditions above God’s commandments. Jesus said that what is first and of great
importance is to obey God’s commandments. We thank Jesus for his clear and very
important instruction on what is not important and what is important in
religion. We ask Jesus to help us do
what is most important in religion: love God, love our neighbor, and ourselves.
