Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Mark 7, 1-13
When the Pharisees with some scribes who had come from Jerusalem
gathered around Jesus,
they observed that some of his disciples ate their meals
with unclean, that is, unwashed, hands.
(For the Pharisees and, in fact, all Jews,
do not eat without carefully washing their hands,
keeping the tradition of the elders.
And on coming from the marketplace
they do not eat without purifying themselves.
And there are many other things that they have traditionally observed,
the purification of cups and jugs and kettles and beds.)
So the Pharisees and scribes questioned him,
“Why do your disciples not follow the tradition of the elders
but instead eat a meal with unclean hands?”
He responded,
“Well did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites,
as it is written:
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.
You disregard God’s commandment but cling to human tradition.”
He went on to say,
“How well you have set aside the commandment of God
in order to uphold your tradition!
For Moses said,
Honor your father and your mother,
and Whoever curses father or mother shall die.
Yet you say,
‘If someone says to father or mother,
“Any support you might have had from me is qorban”‘
(meaning, dedicated to God),
you allow him to do nothing more for his father or mother.
You nullify the word of God
in favor of your tradition that you have handed on.
And you do many such things.”
Religious Structuralism: Creating Barriers Instead of Building Bridges
1. Religion. The word “religion” is rooted in a term that means “to bind again” or reconnect. For us, religion is about restoring our relationship with God. Christianity is essential for renewing this bond. It’s a way of living—an encounter with Jesus which transforms you, and that transformation in turn, helps you to make a difference in others’ lives.
2. The rules. The rules of our faith are intended to be expressions of love. Think about the actions people in love take to show their affection. Practices like attending Mass or praying the Rosary aren’t burdens but ways to deepen and secure your relationship with God. Similar to marriage, if you never communicate with your spouse or show affection, you may grow apart and become strangers or even adversaries.
3. Rigidity. Problems arise when faith and its rules become a rigid, restrictive system, a suffocating structure. Instead of drawing you closer to God, the excessive weight and expectations can break the connection completely. You lose sight of what truly matters
—acting out of love—replacing it with duty alone. Rather than focusing on genuine conversation with God and sharing your heart, you get caught up in external details—how you hold your hands, your appearance, or whether your genuflection was perfect. Structure is beneficial for supporting your spiritual journey, but when it becomes rigid, it stifles you. The focus shifts from authentic connection with God to following form for its own sake. Don’t let religion become a source of suffocation for others. Instead, help those around you experience true freedom as God’s children and rediscover their relationship with Him.
Remember that something good is on the way!
God bless you and be with you in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
