One of the key issues that every society faces is that of “corruption”!

How many are the times when we hear comments as…
>> “We wish for a corruption-free society”
>> If corruption were to be rooted away, our country would sprint towards development”
>> “Corruption is the greatest menace that our society faces today”

Every good leader, therefore, seeks to do away with this menace of “corruption”

Yes…
… every corruption of power and authority warrant a strong opposition
… every failure and misuse of laws, traditions and customs gives rise to strong opposition.

The Gospel of the Day is a strong opposition by Jesus to the corrupt and at times, inhuman and oppressive authority of the leaders of His time – the Scribes and the Pharisees.

The Gospel begins with the statement, ” Jesus called to Him the people and said to them…” (Mk 7:14)

Jesus calls together the multitude to Himself to speak something…
>> Jesus brings aside the people to Himself to address to them something…

The background to this action of Jesus, is the context of the unfair remarks of the Pharisees and Scribes about Jesus and His disciples, in Mk 7: 1-14.

The scribes and the Pharisees had objected that Jesus’ disciples failed to keep up the tradition of the Elders to have the ritual washing before eating.

This exercise of ritual washing was more a ceremonial one.

They attached greater importance to external cleanliness over internal purity.
>> They accorded higher priority to hygiene outside than to transparency within.

They would not bother, hearts being corrupted…
… but they would not tolerate dirty hands!

They would despise unwashed hands, but they would bypass filthy hearts!

But Jesus is in prime opposition to all such deceitful and corrupt human practices.
>> He flays the Scribes and Pharisees for their misplaced priorities.
>> He slams the Scribes and Pharisees for their misleading interpretation of purity.

And so, Jesus summoned the crowd and explained what is the meaning of real cleanliness and purity:
“Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person; but the things that come out from within are what defile” (Mk 7: 16)

Indeed, a remarkable statement from Jesus, the Purest and the Holiest One!

The Pharisees and the Scribes for a long time, had enforced importance only to external purity and outside cleanliness.

Their authority was used to stamp the importance of rituals and traditions, which were meant to…
… only emphasize bodily cleaning, but avoiding transparency in life
… only highlight cleansing of external parts, but overlooking sanctity of heart and mind

But, Jesus comes in great opposition and places things in the right perspective.

It is not just our hands alone that matter; it is our hearts that matter most!
>> It is not just our medical hygiene that counts; it is our lives that needs consideration the most!

Shall we make a self-introspection….
>> I may be appearing to be clean outside…
… but is my heart pure and holy?

>> I may be appearing to be an angel to the world…
… but am I a barn of devilish actions within?

>> I may be appearing to be very good to all…
… but am I full of anger, jealousy and greed inside?

>> I may be appearing to be successful…
… but am I decaying interiorly with unchastity and deceit?

Is it not time to cleanse my heart and life, which is perhaps…
… defiled with sin?
…  impure with unhealthy thoughts?
… sullied with evil intentions?

Yes…
… let us join our Lord in opposing every bit of corruption and malice from our hearts!

God Bless! Live Jesus!