by: Deacon Paul Rooney (deaconpaul@cox.net)
22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time (B) - August 31, 2003

Q. 230: What was so difficult for Jesus and the disciples about "washing their hands" before eating, the tradition or custom of the Jews and their ancestors (Mk 7:3) ?

A. 230: In their tradition or custom, a person could become "unclean" simply by touching an unclean person or animal or thing. There were many rites of "purification" with water - washing, bathing, or sprinkling with water mixed with other cultic substances. The books of Leviticus and Numbers have many of these rituals. But it seems fairly clear that "cleanness" means fitness for participation in the cult, whereas "uncleanness" disqualifies one from cultic functions [e.g., see McKenzie]. Therefore, "uncleanness" is viewed strictly as a physical state of being.

Jesus used those ancient customs, whose reason or origin was no longer remembered, as a springboard for an important teaching. He was very stern when it came to the "fanatic rigidity" exercised by the Pharisees in their interpretation of those old customs. So he taught them that the "cleanness" that counts is the cleanness of the heart. Morality was not a factor at all in those old "cleanliness" customs; Jesus wanted to emphasis that morality was, in fact, the core issue. Real "uncleanness" consists in thoughts, words or deeds that originate from within, from the heart. He lists several of those as examples: evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, envy, arrogance, and others. These are the things that are truly "unclean," Jesus emphasizes.

In effect, Jesus shifts the focus of the Pharisees back to the Ten Commandments where it belongs. It is from our disordered and immoderate desires that flow the "evils that defile." These are the things that violate our covenant with God, not forgetting to wash hands before eating.

Know Your Catechism! This is a good opportunity to review how we respond to the 9th and 10th Commandments of God, "Thou shalt not covet…" They ask us to look at the internal attitudes and intentions of the mind and heart (CCC #2517-18) to see if they are disordered (CCC #2535-38). On our spiritual journey we are called to pursue two Beatitudes in particular (CCC #2518, 2546).

Deacon Paul Rooney
Mary Our Queen Parish, Omaha

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