Memorial of Saint Scholastica, Virgin
In today’s Gospel Mark recounts an exchange between Jesus and the Pharisees, who complain about the lack of religious habits on the part of His apostles. In His response Jesus condemns an analytic approach that centers habits and rituals of religion in place of true worship and instead urges purity of heart and fidelity to his words.
But religious practices, devotions and habits can be authentic means for attaining purity of heart, love and fidelity to Christ and the Church; they are not to be scoffed at or condemned. They can be means to an end, unity with Christ and His Church.
Jesus blamed the Pharisees for making such practices ends, not means; for placing more importance on their own traditions than on the word of God, found in the Old Testament; and for asserting that what He taught was less true than what they believed.
Jesus tells us to avoid being pharisaical, having this false pious mentality. To live the faith and to be a good Catholic means adjusting our own lives to what He said and did in his earthly life.
It means recognizing that performing religious gestures and participating in pious rituals means nothing in itself, without involving the heart. These practices are the avenues to what is essential. What is a good practice for me in order to live up to this code of behavior? Eucharistic devotion. Frequent reception of Holy Communion and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.
Resolve: I shall pray especially today for those who have left the Church for what they consider pious reasons. I shall also pray for unity within the Church, and for unity within our nation, too.