Loving God, you purify us from within and claim us as your own through your Son, Jesus.  May your Spirit continue to be at work in our hearts, molding and shaping us as your beloved children; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen.

            A pastor who writes for RevGalBlogPals.org reflects on when her young children were learning about hand washing in preschool and kindergarten.  She could tell that it was being taught at school, because they started to pay more attention to washing their hands at home.  However, even though they were washing their hands, she also witnessed her children eating chalk, drinking dirty bathwater, licking playground equipment, and putting their mouths on the handles of shopping carts.  In other words, even though their hands were clean (at least sometimes), there were plenty of other ways for germs to find their way inside of them.

         This is similar, it seems, to what was going on with the Pharisees (although their hand washing had nothing to do with germs).  The whole discussion that starts off today’s gospel has to do with ritual hand washing and ritual purity.  It was an outward sign of holiness rather than the usual washing your hands before eating.

         In the rather lengthy discussion that follows, Jesus invites us and them to think about what actually makes a person holy.  Is it all of the rules that you follow?  Is it sticking to tradition?  Is it how often you go to church or how sincere you are when you receive the Lord’s Supper?  Is it saying the right things and watching your language?  Is it tithing? – not only your income, but also your mint and dill and cumin?  What is it that makes a person holy and acceptable to God?...

         The Pharisees and other religious leaders in the first century had their own ideas about this.  They followed what was known as the Holiness Code – all of the laws found in Leviticus, which are part of the 613 commandments that are in the Torah.  And so, in order to keep themselves undefiled, or pure and holy, they would not eat food that was considered to be unclean.  They practiced ritual washing.  They avoided touching corpses, or lepers, or any people who might be considered to be unclean.

         At the same time, the Pharisees, especially, had their own traditions surrounding how one was supposed to keep all of these laws.  One of these traditions, which is mentioned in today’s gospel, was designating your money as “Corban,” which means an offering to God.  Thus, rather than supporting their elderly parents, which was part of the law of Moses, they would give a large offering – a sure sign of holiness, don’t you think?...

         In order to bring this discussion more into the present day, imagine somebody who goes to church every Sunday, shows great reverence at the Lord’s table, and makes a point of giving donations that will be seen and recognized by others.  This same person, during the rest of the week, lies and cheats, accumulates as much as possible, is sexually promiscuous, and spreads lies about others.  While this might seem a little extreme, this is the kind of behavior that Jesus was addressing – outward holiness, but a heart that is full of evil intentions.

         It is a recurring theme throughout the Scriptures – human beings tend to judge based on appearances, whereas God sees what is in people’s hearts.  And so, over and over again, Jesus points the Pharisees, and others, to the matters of the heart.  He lifts up justice and mercy and love as the most important things in the Law.  Rather than 613 commandments, he points to one (or maybe two, depending on how you count).  He lifts up two commandments from the Torah and makes them into one – love God with your entire being and love your neighbour as yourself.  And, he only gives one new commandment: “Love one another as I have loved you” (Jn. 15:12).  If we were to do this, it would be enough.

         However, how many of us, like the Pharisees, prefer many detailed rules and regulations in order to determine who is acceptable and who is not?  Some churches have more than others, but many rules have been devised over the years to show who is holy and who is not.  No dancing.  No playing cards.  No alcohol.  No divorce.  No gambling.  No inappropriate clothing!  No work on Sundays.  No non-heterosexual relationships.  No chocolate during Lent.  No communion before you’re confirmed.

         When we really think about it, it is not breaking rules such as these that is damaging to the community, but “unholy living and disrespect for others, one’s own self, and God” (RevGalBlogPals.org).  In fact, today’s gospel contains a rather long list of things that start in our hearts and are damaging to the community – things like envy and greed, lying and cheating, sexual promiscuity and unfaithfulness, pride and theft.  These are the things that defile a person – that cause a person to be impure or unholy.

         When we are totally honest with ourselves, all of us probably fall into this category.  We have all had things in our hearts or have done things that are damaging to our relationships with God, with others, and with ourselves.  What is it, then, that could ever make us holy and acceptable to God?...

         It is not following the Holiness Code.  It is not obeying all the rules.  It is, however, a matter of the heart, and God is the only one who is holy and who can make us holy.  Jesus is the only one who ever lived a holy life, and it is through our faith and trust in him that the Holy Spirit makes us holy and acceptable to God.  In fact, the Holy Spirit even provides the faith that we need, and then proceeds to produce fruit like love and joy and peace in our lives.  Thanks be to God!  Amen.

Epiphany 6 (NL 2)                                        Mark 7:1-23

February 16, 2020

St. Luke’s Zion Lutheran Church

Pastor Lynne Hutchison

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