Our family has begun many Lenten seasons asking each other, “What are you giving up for Lent? Ice Cream? Chocolate? Midnight snacks?” That sounds a lot like the Pharisees in this reading, scolding the disciples for not following the tradition of ritual hand-washing before eating. But Jesus challenges the Pharisees, calling them hypocrites and pointing out that culinary restrictions and rituals won’t bring you closer to God. Jesus tells the people that it’s not their interactions with things that matter; God cares about how they behave with other people. In this reading, Jesus reminds us that we will be “clean,” and closer to God, if we are kind and caring towards others. If we are selfish, spiteful, and greedy – if we put ourselves first – we are more unclean than any speck of dirt could make us. So this Lent, our family has decided not to focus on ritualistic sacrifices that have more to do with how we interact with things in our world. Instead, we will look for opportunities to follow Jesus’s teachings and example and bring “from within” our “human hearts” more love and concern and care for others, to do what we can to clean what has been “defiled.” The Prayer of St. Francis – a favorite of Mary’s Grandpa “Red” Weldon – will be our inspiration:
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace
Where there is hatred, let me sow love
Where there is injury, pardon
Where there is doubt, faith
Where there is despair, hope
Where there is darkness, light
Where there is sadness, joy
— The Williams Family: Fred, Mary, Isabel & Connor
No comments:
Post a Comment