Faith Education and RE News

You forget the commandments of God and hold on to human tradition - Mark 7:1-8. 14-15. 21-23

In this week’s Gospel, the Pharisees gather around Jesus and ask Him, “Why do Your disciples not respect the tradition of the elders but eat their food with unclean hands?” Jesus replies, calling the Pharisees hypocrites and accusing them of following the rules merely for show. He continues, “Listen to Me, all of you, and understand. Nothing that goes into a man from outside can make him unclean; it is the things that come out of a man that make him unclean. For it is from within, from men’s hearts, that evil intentions emerge.”

This passage highlights the debate among early Christians after the death of Jesus. Jesus’ followers, like Jesus Himself, were Jewish, so they continued to attend synagogue and follow the kosher laws of the Jewish faith. However, as time went on, they began to forge a new identity. In this Scripture, Jesus emphasizes that what matters is not mere obedience to laws but what is in one's heart. In the parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus illustrates this by showing that it is the Good Samaritan who cared for the injured man, rather than the high priest with his rules, who is the true follower of God. Jesus describes the high priest’s actions as “lip service” – fulfilling the rules and requirements in name only, without living out the faith-filled life and dedication that is truly required.

The question of what is in someone’s heart is intriguing – why do we do what we do? What made the high priest’s actions so misguided? The philosopher Plato poses this question, wondering if people are inherently good. He presents a hypothetical scenario: if a person were given a ring that removed all repercussions (in this life and the next), what would people do? Are people following God’s law only out of fear of punishment or hope of reward in the afterlife? Does it matter? This question, known as “The Ring of Gyges,” also inspired J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings.”

This week’s Gospel provides a clear answer to Plato’s question. We are called to care for others not because of how others will perceive us or out of fear of not reaching heaven, but because we genuinely desire to help and care for others. Our emotional investment in our friends and family motivates us. Simply put, this week Jesus teaches us that it is not just about what we do, but why we do it.

- Jonathan Rooney

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