Unwashed hands Vs Unwashed hearts

Gospel Thoughts

*Ordinary Season : C Cycle : 5th Week - Tuesday*

*GOSPEL -  Mk 7:1-13*

*FIRST READING 1 Kgs 8:22-23, 27-30*

*Unwashed hands Vs Unwashed hearts*

*1) The controversy of Unwashed hands*

The Pharisees and the Scribes who came from Jerusalem found that some of the disciples of Jesus were eating with unwashed hands 

So the controversy of unwashed or unclean hands come up, in the context of eating 

For Jews cleanliness of hands and the vessels were more important than anything else. Because of this when they enter the house from outside always wash their hands and feet and enter the house 

*2) Unwashed Hearts*

When the Pharisees and scribes brought the controversy of unwashed hands, Jesus uses this opportunity to teach some greater and deeper truths about the cleanliness or the spiritual cleanliness. 

For Jesus, the cleanliness of the heart is more important than the cleanliness of the hand

Those whose hearts are unclean they are called as hypocrites by Jesus. 

*3) Cleanliness of the hand*

This cleanliness highlights the following areas 

*External cleanliness 

*Peripheral cleanliness

*Cleanliness of the things but not of the person 

*Faithfulness to the human tradions and not to the commandments of the Lord

*Honour only through the lips and nothing more 

*In the name of God, escaping the responsibility towards the parents 

*4) Cleanliness of the Heart*

This concept speaks about the internal cleaning, which may include the following things 

*Cleanliness of the heart, which takes the various feelings and emotions. So cleanliness of the feelings and emotions 

*Cleanliness of the Mind, which includes the purity of thoughts, reasiong, and plans 

Cleanliness of the Sight, which includes the purity in seeing various things 

*Cleanliness of the Tongue, which calls us to maintain the purity of tongue

*Cleanliness of the ears, which includes the purity which needed for listening and communicating the right things 

Cleanliness of behavior, which helps a person to live a life of simplicity, humility and sincerity

Finally in one word we can say that the cleanliness of Whole being is more important than cleanliness of the hand 

*5) Unwashed hands is a very narrow understanding*

The controversy of unwashed hands shows the smallness of their view, smallness their world, smallness of their thinking and knowing the things 

This also shows their ignorance about greater reality and Gospel values 

Unwashed hand is a silly thing. So to talk about this means to avoid greater and deeper realities. 

*6) To wash hands is easy, but the Heart*

Washing of hands is a simple thing, which can be done at any moment 

Washing of hands is very easy thing, no much complications are involved 

Washing of hands is done for external cleanliness 

No much efforts are necessary to wash ones hands 

But washing of the heart is very challenging and Herculean task 

It is not one moment of work, but it is a life long process 

Washing of the heart is the only one way for salvation. 

*7) Where do I Stand??*

Do I concentrate on cleanliness of the heart or cleanliness of external things???

*Think about it*

*God bless you and your family. Praying for you and your dear ones*

*Fr Maxim Dsouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*