A Message for the 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

I think this week’s Gospel reading might be a little jarring to me in the context of the time in which we live. In this time of Covid-19, we have redoubled our efforts regarding hand washing before meals, every time we pass a sink, and when a sink is not available, we use hand sanitizer. So, when I heard that Jesus’ disciples were not washing their hands before meals, I was a little puzzled.  

What did not dawn on me at first, was that hand washing was a ritual in Jesus’ time, that had little to do with avoiding germs or bacteria. This was a religious ritual, that at times was taken more seriously by the Pharisees and the scribes, than was forming a relationship with God. While the cleansing might have found its root in relationship, it became something that they had just done. Jesus’ followers did not worry about such things because they lived in the constant presence of God.  

During most of the pandemic, the bishops had suspended the obligation to attend the Mass on Sunday. This caused us as Catholics to reconsider why we attend Mass. Those of us who may have been attending out of obligation felt the profound absence of this practice in our lives. Our parish sought to offer the option of streaming Mass and reservations to assure safe attendance, and we continued to observe even when we could not be in the building. Then when we were able to open, many found themselves returning in person because they needed to receive Jesus, they felt the absence of Him in the Eucharist in their lives.  

Unlike the hand washing of the Pharisees and scribes we were offered the opportunity to reevaluate our ritual, and hopefully move more deeply into our relationship with God. This week lets pray for final victory over the Corona Virus, and that our every practice of faith can be an extension and deepening of our relationship with God.