Silly arguments

"You disregard God's commandment but cling to human tradition." Mk 7:8

It is not uncommon, especially when we feel challenged, to become very defensive and argue about silly matters. Because I lived in Boston for the last nine years, I listened, via the Internet, to Boston sports radio the morning after the Super Bowl.  Most of the New England Patriot fans, trying to distract themselves from the sting of another loss to the New York Giants, were endlessly debating dropped passes and the coach's strategy at the end of the game allowing the Giants to score a touchdown. After listening for a few minutes, I smiled.  That could be me, I thought, if the Giants had lost.

Unfortunately, something like the agonized chatter I was listening to on the radio happened regularly to the Pharisees. Their intent was good. Because they wanted every Jew to imagine their tables at home as the table of the Lord, they taught that Jews ought to practice at home all the temple rules for washing and eating. What was intended to be a reminder while in the temple to honor God, became the norm for family living, and people's piety was judged by their willingness to conform to a particular practice. Whether the practice really helped them honor God in their homes became a secondary concern. Behaving like the Pharisees and other pious Jews was more important than placing God at the center of their faith lives.

When Jesus, therefore, challenged the leaders of the Jews not to abandon their responsibilities towards their parents and elders for the sake of conforming to a pious practice, he became the object of the Pharisees wrath, not because he loved God less, but because he disagreed with their interpretation of the law. We would do well to examine our consciences about matters like this. Are we arguing with others about matters of faith and religious practice for the sake of winning a debate, or honestly trying to draw closer to God?

Today, put aside silly arguments and listen with your heart to those with whom you diagree.