Gospel: Mark 7:1-8.14-15.21-23
At that time, a group of Pharisees and some scribes from Jerusalem approached Jesus and saw that some of His disciples ate with unwashed hands, that is, without washing them. (It is worth knowing that the Pharisees and the Jews in general do not eat without first thoroughly washing their hands, observing the tradition of their ancestors; and upon returning from the market, if they do not wash, they do not eat; and they observe many other customs by tradition, such as washing cups, jars, and pots). So the Pharisees and the scribes asked Him: “Why do Your disciples eat with unwashed hands and not follow the tradition of the elders?” Jesus answered 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. Their worship of me is useless, because their teachings are merely human rules. You abandon God’s commandment and hold to human traditions.” Then He called the crowd again and said to them: “Listen to me, everyone, and understand: nothing that enters a person from outside can defile them; but what comes out of a person is what defiles them. For from within, out of the heart of men, come evil thoughts, fornications, thefts, murders, adulteries, greed, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a person.”

Fruit: Analyze what kind of love is in me, in my thoughts, in my words, and in my actions.

Guidelines for reflection:
What is more important, obeying the law or the love with which it is obeyed? The Jews emphasized a detailed and perfectionist practice of the law, and ended up turning religion into a set of human rules. Today, many Christians justify any action by claiming they love God, even against the commandments of the Church. But where is the point of balance?

1. Obeying the law
Jesus Christ at no point reproves the Pharisees for obeying the law. Even more, He recommends to the people that they do and obey what the Pharisees say: “Do what they say, but not what they do.” God had given a law to the Jews, a series of conduct norms, commandments, and prohibitions, to guide their lives. Like a good father, He teaches His children in detail how they should live. Laws, rules, commandments are there to be obeyed. They are a manifestation of God’s love that shows us the concrete path we must follow. He knows that man can easily stray from the good path, and He provides many means to prevent this: He gives a “map,” points out crossroads, intersections, dangerous zones…

2. Putting love into the law
God gave a concrete path to His people, but He insists: I am not satisfied with your male goats, your sacrifices made according to the law, your scrupulous observance of the norms. God seeks the heart of His people. That is why the prophet Isaiah laments: I do not criticize your sacrifices, but your heart is far from me. Obeying a series of norms, even in great detail, can also be done by a machine. The fidelity that God asks of His people, the practice of Christianity that we are called to, is a human experience, that is, putting into it the most characteristic aspect of man: his heart. God sees the sacrifices of the Jews, their rules, but finds them empty. Why? Because they are only human, material norms, lived without putting heart, love, affection into them. Examine your heart: how do you obey the commandments? Perhaps you go to Mass every Sunday, or every day, but mechanically, without truly living the mystery of mysteries. It may be that you give alms to the poor at the church door, but you do not give your heart, your love, your affection to your spouse, your children, or your parents.

3. The law filled with love and freedom in the human heart
What is the right balance between law and love? Saint Augustine summarizes it in a few words: Love and do what you want. Love God sincerely, completely, responding to everything He asks of you, through the Church, through legitimate authority, through your conscience. Love, but with coherence, and that love will guide you at each moment on what you should do. From this sincere love, true freedom of the heart flows, a deep conviction that makes us obey God’s law, not as a burden, but as the path to show Him how much we love Him. From this perspective, difficult moments become beautiful moments, for they are opportunities to demonstrate to God how much we love Him.

Purpose: Before sleeping, I will spend a few moments talking with God about the love of sonship I have for Him.