|
First
Reading
|
Psalm |
Epistle |
Gospel |
| Song of Solomon 2:8–13
|
Psalm 15 |
James 1:17-27 |
Mark 7:1–8,14–15,21–23
|
From the fourth century in Egypt, comes the tale of three travelers who went to visit a desert monk who was renowned for his wisdom. After a rewarding stay, as the first visitor was preparing to take his leave, he asked the monk, “Would you please make me a woven basket as a souvenir?” “No,” replied the monk, “for I’m far too busy.” The second visitor, as he prepared to leave, also requested a small basket as a reminder of the spiritual guidance he had received, but the monk told him, “Here are some rushes and a pot of warm water, weave one yourself.” The third visitor came to take his leave and made the same request as the other two, and immediately the monk smiled and said, “Certainly, I will be happy to and will start to weave it right now.”
When the other two had heard that the third had had his request granted, they went to the monk and asked why he had treated them differently. The monk said to the first, “Ah, I knew that you knew I had received you warmly and had given you my heart. You would understand why I was so busy.” To the second visitor the monk said, “I knew that you would be diligent in your prayers and need no reminder or prodding, but your third brother has sinned greatly and knows he has a bad reputation. I granted his request to show him that I forgive him and that God will offer him a new life. I did not want my denial of his request be taken as a rejection of him or to cloud the gift God has offered him.”
The tale may be interpreted on several levels. It reminds us to pay attention to the individual rather than applying an easy “one size fits all” set of principles. It also suggests that forgiveness is not need-fulfillment nor is need-fulfillment forgiveness. The ancient tale further suggests that when Jesus Christ is central, the revelation of God’s grace is central.
The writer of the Gospel of Mark liked to enclose a story within a story, and often had Jesus speaking to what seemed to be two different groups of people both at the same time. In today’s Gospel, Jesus is confronting a certain group of rabbis who were nitpicking over how the disciples observed particular customs. Jesus never implied that the customs were wrong or that they should be discarded, rather Jesus pointed to their greater purpose. For example, Jesus noted when he and his disciples were criticized over their observance of the Sabbath that the Sabbath was made for the benefit of people of faith; people were not made for the benefit of the Sabbath regulations.
Jesus also addressed a larger body of people with whom Jesus was engaged in teaching about the importance of true motivation and heart rather than outward motions or superficial action. Like the example of the monk, Jesus wanted to teach the higher principles of repentance, forgiveness, self-examination and God’s grace, not simply a ritual to be unquestionably followed.
Periodically letters to the editor appear in the newspaper that frankly give people of faith a bad name, for the writers very selectively concentrate on their own specific interpretations of ancient rules and regulations wrenched out of context and without reference to their intention. That is what Jesus in the Gospel today is warning us against. In contrast, the story of the wise monk of the desert serves as an example of what people of faith are called to do, to look beneath the surface, not judge or act superficially, and instead and primarily, to be instruments conveying God’s larger grace. For when Christ is central, we live into the Gospel.
And I offer this to you in the name of the Living God, Amen.
