Mk 7:1 - 8, 14 - 15,  21 - 23

In this week’s gospel the Pharisees and scribes questioned the actions of the disciples. In response, Jesus accused them of honouring him ‘with only lip-service while their hearts were far away.’ Jesus warns us against confusing God’s law with man-made rules and practices. God’s law is designed to form our hearts, our values, so that we live in a way that ensures everyone’s well-being. Sometimes we think of laws as restrictive and oppressive to our freedom. The emphasis today is that laws do in fact make our lives easier; and that God’s law in particular frees our hearts from ways of acting that makes us unhappy. We can consider God’s law and Jesus’ teaching as a gift, one that touches and forms our hearts to love God and to love, respect, forgive and to be truthful to Christ.