Words to live by. Thank you, Bob.

Yes, I understand stand the point of your reflection and today’s Gospel reading, but…

Many of the religious traditions Catholics follow have come from the Jewish religion, purification of the hands being one of them. That tradition of purification started with the Jewish high priest purifying himself before offering a sacrifice to God. See Ceremony of Ordination Leviticus 8:6.

Today the Catholic priest does condensed version of this practice before the consecration of the gifts with the addition of saying, “Wash away my iniquities and cleanse me from my sins,” (a verse taken from the Old Testament, psalm 51).

Anyway, before a Jew consumes any meal, they are to wash their hands in a reverent manner and say this prayer, “Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with Your commandments, and commanded us concerning the washing of the hands.”

As a Catholic, I don’t think that that is a bad practice to follow. In fact, I wash my hands before meals and say a prayer too. “Bless us, O Lord, and these thy gifts…”.

My point, I think Jesus is again showing us, it’s not what you do, it’s why you do it.

Mark