Jesus condemns
Pharisees and Scribes saying, “You abandon God’s commandment and hold on to
human tradition” (Mk 7:8). The Ten Commandments are the basic laws given by God
that every Jew was expected to follow. Jesus summarized these Ten Commandments into
two; love God and love one’s neighbour. The Pharisees and
Scribes are the guardians of discipline of Jewish religious life. They hold the
seat of Moses to judge people according to the law. The traditions that emerged
in the course of time are practical guidelines that help people to follow the
law in particular situation. As only few people had the privilege and
opportunity to education, these traditions facilitated poor people in keeping
the laws. These traditions are good in itself and serves the need. These traditions
get changed according to time, place and circumstances. Pharisees and Scribes are
the authoritarian personals who form, change and oversee the observance of these
traditions. As faithful leaders they come to Jesus and question about the
activities of Jesus’s disciples. They complain that His disciples are not
keeping the tradition (Mk 7:5). Their main intention is to tell Jesus that He
is not following the traditions but due to fear of crowd they direct their
complaint toward His disciples. This is their hypocrisy. If they are faithful
leaders and know for sure that Jesus has overlooked some traditions, they
should confront Him boldly and directly. Confronting the wicked and err person
directly is the genuineness and the moral ascendency of any good leader. Taking
another way in view of protecting one’s image and security is a hypocrisy,
dishonesty, unfaithfulness and betrayal of one’s office.
The laws of Jewish
nation are considered as marvellous in the sight of other nations. Because the
laws of Jews are not the product of human wisdom but a gift of divine
revelation. Even today no country or institution has better laws than Catholic
Church. The laws of the Catholic Church are based on divine revelation, scripture and tradition. In the first reading God
reminds Jews that by following His laws others nations will have high esteem on
them (Deut 4:6). He instructs them not to add or remove anything from His laws
(Deut 4:2). As Christians we are called to keep the laws of revelation at all
times. The problem in today’s world is that we have projected the divine laws
as contrast to human and nations’ constitutions. In view of national order and
human dignity Christian precepts are abandoned. In reality Christian precepts
are in no way against guarding human dignity and national order. It is a false
propaganda that is being made. One of those is the legalization of Abortion. In
the name of guarding the rights of women and national health such abomination
acts are legislated. The worst part of this situation is that the majority of
those countries that legalized abortion are Christian nations. To all
Christians who change divine laws in favour of national harmony and health Jesus
tells, “You abandon God’s commandment and hold on to human tradition”(Mk 7:8).
These Christians are Pharisees and Scribes of Jesus’s time, who acted
hypocritically.
The fulfilment
of God’s commandment is not easy. It takes courage, risks and tasks. Jesus did
not promise prosperity in the path toward heaven. He warned about cross that
come on believer’s way in following Him. The lack of courage to take up the
cross is the root cause to excuse oneself from following God’s law. The
legislation of life threatening laws are revolt against to take up one’s cross.
It is a systematic way of abandoning God’s law from humanity. They think that
they are wise in carrying out this legislation, but it will back fire on them. In
the second reading St. James invites us to live the Word that we hear (Jas
1:22). God’s Word is given to us in order to follow. Let us not be just hearers
of the Word. Christianity is about living. Divine laws make human divine. The human
laws are result of some experience and study. They certainly help humans to
bring positive discipline in the society, but they are not perfect. Divine laws
are legislated by our creator who knows us from before we are being formed in
our mother’s womb. At times our actions are like hypocrite Pharisees, who focus
on human traditions (human laws) and forget divine laws. The laws of
Christianity are supreme to any other laws. The precept of Christianity are to
be guarded at any cost. The martyrs in the church history are the inspiration
for those who take shelter in the human laws. The martyrs held firm to divine
laws. Every martyr was given a chance to save his or her life if they give up divine
laws and accept human propositions. They chose divine law above human
propositions. They chose divine life in eternity than death into hell. Earlier
the upholders of divine laws were executed, today the upholders of divine laws
are sued as criminals and naxals under national laws. It is a modern martyrdom.
Today we need such martyrs who live the faith come what may. One of such martyr
is Fr. Stan Swamy S.J. who died in prison under false accusation. His martyrdom
was carried out systematically and lawfully. May his soul rest in peace and be
inspiration to wavering Christians. Let us chose between life and death. Let us
chose between heaven and hell. Let us chose between divine laws and human wisdom.
May we chose life unto death to guard divine laws. May we uphold God’s
commandment and abandon human tradition.
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