Tradition and traditions. Sunday Reflections, 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B.

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A silver cup for netilat yadayim, the Jewish ritual washing of hands


Readings (New American Bible: Philippines, USA) 

Readings (Jerusalem Bible: Australia, England & Wales, India [optional], Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, Scotland, South Africa) 

Gospel Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23 (Revised Standard Version – Catholic Edition)

Now when the Pharisees gathered together to him, with some of the scribes, who had come from Jerusalem, they saw that some of his disciples ate with hands defiled, that is, unwashed. (For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, do not eat unless they wash their hands, observing the tradition of the elders; and when they come from the market place, they do not eat unless they purify themselves; and there are many other traditions which they observe, the washing of cups and pots and vessels of bronze.) And the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, "Why do your disciples not live according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with hands defiled?"

And he said to them, "Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, 'This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.'

“You leave the commandment of God, and hold fast the tradition of men."
And he called the people to him again, and said to them, "Hear me, all of you, and understand: there is nothing outside a man which by going into him can defile him; but the things which come out of a man are what defile him. 

“For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, fornication, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a man."


Glory to God in the highest (New English translation)

In the Philippines the new English translation will be fully implemented on the First Sunday of Advent. In the Diocese of Bacolod, where I live, the people's parts are being gradually introduced. We started with 'And with your spirit' in August and this weekend are introducing the 'I confess' and 'Gloria'.

Full post here.

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