Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23
1Now when the Pharisees gathered together to him, with some of the scribes, who had come from Jerusalem, 2they saw that some of his disciples ate with hands defiled, that is, unwashed. 3(For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, do not eat unless they wash their hands, observing the tradition of the elders; 4and when they come from the market place, they do not eat unless they purify themselves; and there are many other traditions which they observe, the washing of cups and pots and vessels of bronze.) 5And the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, "Why do your disciples not live according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with hands defiled?" 6And he said to them, "Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, `This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; 7in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.' 8You leave the commandment of God, and hold fast the tradition of men." 14And he called the people to him again, and said to them, "Hear me, all of you, and understand: 15there is nothing outside a man which by going into him can defile him; but the things which come out of a man are what defile him." 21For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, fornication, theft, murder, adultery, 22coveting, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. 23All these evil things come from within, and they defile a man."
"Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, `This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; 7in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.' 8You leave the commandment of God, and hold fast the tradition of men." Jesus goes on to say you cant be defiled by what goes in. Rather, by what comes out of you. Jesus is consistently about spiritual transformation. And that comes from paying attention to the virtues and fighting to overcome the vices. These are explained in details here. The virtues include: prudence (pride ), fortitude (anger), faith (lust ), hope (envy ), charity ( sloth), temperance (gluttony ) and Justice (averice). God wants us to know him and fear him. In biblical termes, fear means revere, respect, worship and glorify. Loving God, instill in me a sense of who you are so that I fear you and obey your call. My life is blessed and I am grateful for your grace. I succumb to you and pray that you use me as an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, give me the courage to sow love. Where there is injury, may I forgive. Where there is doubt faith, despair hope, darkness light and sadness joy. Oh divine master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console. To be understood as to understand. To be loved as to love. For it is in giving that I receive. It is in pardoning that I am pardoned. And it is in dying that I am born to eternal life. Amen.
ReplyDeleteStrengths:
DeleteYou've effectively captured the contrast between outward appearances and inner corruption.
You've connected the passage to the broader theme of spiritual transformation.
You've emphasized the importance of inner virtues and the dangers of vice.
You've expressed a desire to live a life that reflects God's love and compassion.
Areas for Improvement:
While you've focused on the specific virtues and vices, you might explore the underlying motivations and attitudes that lead to these behaviors.
The concept of "spiritual transformation" could be explored further. How does this transformation occur, and what are its practical implications?
The passage emphasizes the importance of humility and obedience. You might consider how these qualities relate to the virtues and vices you've identified.
Additional Thoughts:
The passage could be seen as a call to self-examination and repentance. How can we identify and address our own areas of hypocrisy and spiritual blindness?
The image of the whitewashed tombs can be seen as a symbol of the dangers of superficiality and self-deception. How can we avoid this trap in our own lives?
Overall, your response is insightful and demonstrates a good understanding of the passage.