Rules, Rituals & Relationships

The Catholic Liturgy for the 22^nd Sunday of Ordinary Time, Sept. 2, 2018. Gospel – Mk 7:1-23. Theme: Rules, Rituals & Relationships

I grew up in an immigrant Italian family still very much tied to the culture and ways of the Old Country. Though my immediate family never ever went to Mass or the sacraments, I would get a salami sandwich slapped right out of hands on Lenten Fridays, along with the reminder that we Catholics do not eat meat on those Fridays!  And when I asked why… the reply was “because that’s just what we do.” What’s wrong with this picture? 

Well, Jesus tells us what’s wrong with it in today’s gospel:  it’s religion based on rules and not relationships. Washing the body without cleansing the soul. It’s lip service without the heart being involved. In other words, it’s hallow, it’s empty show.  Jesus is strongly warning us that this approach to religion has absolutely no power to transform, to change, to save the human person. Instead, it blinds us the real heart of the matter, to the ultimate purpose of Christianity which is conversion of life, changing the ways we think, speak and act.  

External religion cannot empower us to forgive those who hurt us. It cannot motivate us to serve the desperate needs of the hungry, the poor, the sick and the lonely. External religion cannot produce saints, let alone good Christians. In other words, keeping rules and rituals without them being an expression of our love for God will not lead us to Heaven, but only to the other place…and it will fool us all along the way.

The #1 way to insure against falling into this trap is by having and nourishing a sincere and prayerful relationship with God, communicating heart to heart.  But we also need to be aware of our rituals and understand what they mean, know why we do them. Let’s take a quick look at some of these that we use during the Liturgy.  Perhaps this can help us remember what they really mean so that they will not be simply empty actions…

• ·     When we enter the church we take holy water…are we aware that this means we are renewing our baptism, promising to reject Satan and sin and live for God above all else
•      We begin and end the liturgy with the Sign of the Cross.  This classic Catholic ritual is a profession of faith using body language. It means that we believe that God is Holy Trinity of Persons & that salvation comes only through the cross & resurrection of Jesus. Is this true for me personally?
•    When we recite the Confiteor or the Kyrie, many of us strike our chest which is an ancient symbol of sorrow for sin…this action of repentance should lead us to a regular reception of the Sacrament of Confession…does it?
•     When we stand for the Gospel we make a small Sign of the Cross on our forehead. lips and heart…this ritual is supposed to mean that we desire to think like Jesus, speak like Jesus and love like Jesus. Does that describe us?
•     We bow during the part of the Nicene Creed that mentions Jesus becoming human, born of Mary…this is a ritual honoring that truth that God became flesh and embraced our human nature. It should lead us to treat all human beings with the dignity each one deserves since Jesus became Brother to all…do we? 
•     At the Offertory, we put money in the basket for the works of mercy…it’s a symbol of giving something of ourselves to relieve the sufferings of others. Is it a true reflection of how we try to help & comfort others in everyday life?
•     When we receive Holy Communion, we bow before the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist and then become one with Him… Do we consciously try to bring this presence of Jesus living within us to those with whom we live, work and socialize through our words and behavior?

As we prepare to enter into the Liturgy of the Eucharist, let’s ask God for sincerity of heart and true religion, so that Jesus can never ever say of us what He said in today’s Gospel, This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; in vain do they worship me.”