Jesus reacted to the criticism of not observing ritual washing prior to eating leveled at him from the Pharisees and scribes by recalling the tradition of the Prophets through the words of Isaiah: “This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me” (Mk 7:6). Jesus states that following the law for the law’s sake is an empty act. What is important is encountering God, experiencing his love and forgiveness, so as to be able to glorify him by serving others, thereby bringing others into communion with him. Jesus is challenging a hyper scrupulosity for the exactitude of the rules for rules sake, and instead inviting those he teaches to be humble servants of God. Just laws or practices are those that are enacted with love to build up and empower others through discipline that leads away from enslavement to sin, and instead leads to freedom for excellence, to joy, toward a heart on fire with love for relationship with God.

There needs to be a proper balance with the rule of law. Just as with any game we play, there are rules and regulations, their are referees and officials to keep order to the game. When the rules enforced encroach on the flow of the game, such that they stunt the natural flow, and limit the freedom of play, the game breaks down. When the rules are consistent for both sides, provide the structure and boundaries that limit abuse, empower the game to flourish, and the players experience the freedom to actualize their potential, there is the an experience of the true, the good, and the beautiful.

The first time I saw people skate, I was totally enthralled. I think I was seven. My father was working on a carpentry project at our local ice rink and I tagged along. We weren’t there to skate, but I refused to leave until he took me on the ice. My feet were small and so the only size skates they had for me were figure skates, it didn’t matter. The experience was a dismal failure because I hadn’t a clue what I was doing, but in short order, I learned the rules of balance, shifting weight, how to stop and what a toe kick was and was not for. Soon I had the freedom not only to skate, but to join a hockey team. The freedom and joy I felt any time I played hockey, any time I skated, I still carry with me to this day.

This is the gift of the Church when we are at our best. In each interaction, we resist the temptation to support negative prejudgments, and instead risk to engage, to go out of ourselves toward another. I risked taking to the ice that day, failed, but enjoyed the process, and got up again and again and learned. As we mature spiritually we learn what the unconditional love of Jesus is, which is to will the good of one another, accepting one another as we are, such that in each of our interactions we establish boundaries and parameters that show mutual respect for the dignity of each person involved.

We are going to make mistakes, as I did when I tripped over my toe kick, didn’t keep my stick on the ice when skating toward the net, but we learn and adjust. As we journey each day we make choices regarding how we treat one another, these are the boundaries and rules we establish to set a foundation for healthy relationships and actualizing who we are called to be. Our starting point with each encounter ought to be first a willingness to help others come to know Jesus, not prevent them from experiencing his invitation of love, mercy and blessing, and then be willing to accompany one another along the journey with the end goal being the freedom to experience the ultimate joy of the full communion we have been created for, which is to become one with our loving God and Father.

Photo: About eight or nine, living the dream!

Link for the Mass readings for Tuesday, February 6, 2108:

http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/020618.cfm