Don't Wash Your Hands?!

 

Devotions for November 4, 2020

 

Prayer

God of the Deep,

Ancients gave reverence to your mystery. In our own time, we look into the depths of space and give praise to your spectacular Creation. The harvests sing of your generosity. Our hearts proclaim deep gratitude to you. In all seasons and times, you are our God. Nothing shakes your power or position. As my mind quiets before your greatness, I lift my cares and concerns to you, … I rejoice in your listening and give deep thanks for your mercy and abiding love. In your unsearchable Name, we pray. Amen.

 

Matthew 15:1-9

Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, “Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands before they eat.” He answered them, “And why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition? For God said, ‘Honor your father and your mother,’ and, ‘Whoever speaks evil of father or mother must surely die.’ But you say that whoever tells father or mother, ‘Whatever support you might have had from me is given to God,’ then that person need not honor the father. So, for the sake of your tradition, you make void the word of God. You hypocrites! Isaiah prophesied rightly about you when he said: ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching human precepts as doctrines.’”

 

Reflection

Did Jesus really teach the disciples to not wash before eating? In question is not cleanliness in the modern perspective with actual soap, but a ritual cleansing that I am sure Jesus knew to be of little value. So, they were trying to catch Jesus in a trap of neglecting the details. Jesus highlights the real trap of hypocrisy. Oh Jesus, you are right. It is so easy to be quick to judge others and ignore our own failings.

One of the big takeaways for today is: which things are we teaching or judging others based upon human precepts?

Another way to be challenged by this text is to consider in what ways do others view churchgoers as hypocritical? What little traditions do we get hung up on that don’t actually matter? We can ask ourselves, “Am I being sentimental about something I have done, or considering what God has in mind for us all?”