Mark 7:1-8,14-15,21-23

To love takes us to the heart of the divine…and leads us in the way of righteousness and peace. Do you see and know how an act of love, no matter what the circumstances can transform not only a moment but the life of others in the best possible way. Our yes gives life, our no, usurps the potential of God’s grace.

I’ve never been good at putting rules and traditions in front of a potantial act of kindness. A negative block because, ‘it’s not the way it should be done’ can get brutality and sadly in the way of any act of kindness or love that has the greater potential of making a difference in the long run.

We live in a time where traditions are challenged because they seem to be getting in the way of a greater need of reimagining who we are before and on behalf of God. We have greater insight into a troubled, broken and needy world, where customs, traditions, and even rules and laws need to be challenged as we become more and more a global community.

What is acceptable in some areas of the kingdom, theologically justified, is still worthy of a death sentence in others, and the subtleties of needs and diplomacy challenges us to think carefully about honouring…loving…our neighbour.

Jesus life and work was cut out in introducing the precept of love to the stalwarts of Judaic tradition…the scribes and Pharisees, to the hoards of curious and unsuspecting crowds who constantly followed him and to the disciples who struggled to grasp his teachings and the unnerving product of his actions, because of the fear of the ramifications they may have had on them.

Do you identify with any of these? Are you open to God’s transforming love? Would you actually like to make a difference to other peoples lives by what you do and what you are for others?

It’s easy to feel confronted in all these, justifying our little attempts and ways whilst never quite confessing that we haven’t really embraced all this about the Jesus whom we believe in but struggle to follow.

There’s no point to him unless we embrace that divine love which is bursting to bring peace and an abundant outpouring of grace for the peace which the world seeks.

The true sadness has become, because of our reluctance, people are looking elsewhere for something which will never match the overwhelming, generous and gratuitous love which only the divine can truly offer.

Be that one…

There is no doubt, loving is hard to quantify, but the proof is in the pudding!

Blessings to you on your journey with the one who loved us first.
Love.
Fr. Jeff