With Love - November 10

Today’s Readings -  Psalm 80; Neh. 9:1-15(16-25); Rev. 18:1-8; Matt. 15:1-20

My step-father was a first-generation Jewish immigrant and although he wasn’t strict in his religious practices there were some he always observed. For example, the food laws – we never ate butter with meat, and never any pork. When it came to shellfish he looked the other way – he loved shrimp! I couldn’t imagine what the reasons were behind some of them. For the most part he acknowledged that many were originally designed to protect people from eating unclean or unsafe foods. Some he wasn’t sure how they came about. He was sure however that like the rest of the Talmud their original intent was as much about preserving the Jewish people as a set apart nation, as God’s chosen people, as it was anything else. 

 We talked a lot about the ways the Christian faith had been used as a weapon, to do evil horrible things. The Jewish pogroms in Europe along with the mass slaughter of Jews during WWII were just two of the examples he cited. He realized that it wasn’t the faith itself that had caused the harm but that it was the misuse or manipulation of the Christian faith, by people whose intent was evil and corrupt. They used the Christian faith to justify their horrific behavior. 

Jesus explains to his disciples in today’s gospel reading, it’s not what goes into the body that defiles but the evil intent that comes out of the hearts that defiles. Those who twist and turn the scriptures into swords, into lethal weapons to justify killing and cruelty, this is what defiles. Not eating with unwashed hands. 

The strict observance of food laws and other daily practices covered by the Torah during Jesus’ day, are a good example of how we can allow cultural norms to become more important than simple human decency. Fundamental branches of the Christian faith have been known to justify treatment of women and children that amounted to abuse.

I read somewhere that if it speaks of love or increases love then it’s of God. Using our faith as a filter through which to listen and respond to the world is a good start. Jesus practiced loving compassion as a priority above all other considerations. Might we not benefit from doing the same?

Faithfully,

Sally+

 Questions for Challenge and Reflection – Can you remember a time when you were strictly following a rule or rules and realized they were potentially causing harm? How might you rectify that same situation today?