The whole purpose of the Law was to conform hearts to God. Nevertheless, so many practiced the commands, but forgot why they were doing these actions. It was for this reason that Christ instructed the Pharisees in the words of the Prophet Isaiah: “This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines human precepts.”
To put this Gospel into its proper context we would go back to the Book of Exodus. It was here that the priests were instructed to purify their hands and their feet prior to entering the Tent of Meeting. The Tent of Meeting was where the Ark of the Covenant, which contained the presence of God, was placed. As time went on some began to ritually wash before their prayers and meals. In other words, what was being pushed upon the apostles was something which was customary.
By quoting back at them through the use of the Prophet Isaiah He was forcing them to take a closer look at their motives. There is nothing wrong with these extra gestures, but more importantly they should be taking them back to what is important, God. Death was brought into the world through the eating of the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge. Impurity brings upon the doer a form of death which must be cleansed by water. Therefore, this ceremonial washing called to mind the importance of being clean in the sight of God. So too we come to be washed in the waters of baptism in order that we would be claimed for Christ Jesus.
Through entering into the traditions of the Church we are being led towards God. So often we go through the motions of our life without considering why we do them. The Church invites us to enter into her traditions in order that we may gain sight of God and desire to never be separated from Him in this life especially through the death of sin. Within the Church there is nothing passive for we are always being invited to go out and lead others unto the Lord. If we are to do this then we must come to know Him and love Him with our whole heart and soul.
As Pope Francis had proclaimed: “Christian morality is not a form of stoicism, or self-denial, or merely a practical philosophy or a catalogue of sins and faults. before all else, the Gospel invites us to respond to the God of love who saves us, to see God in others and to go forth from ourselves to seek the good of others. Under no circumstances can this invitation be obscured! All of the virtues are at the service of this response to love.”
Therefore, let us come to consider these words for ourselves. Let us come to realize the invitation that we have been given in order to love God and to serve Him in our thoughts, words, and deeds. So often we can allow so many barriers get in the way of making this manifest. To enter into the life of the Church should actively transform us into becoming a true Christian disciple. May this reality always be made manifest within us and thus may we not only honor Him with our lips, but also with our hearts.
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