IN HIS IMAGE AND LIKENESS
Introduction
After the creation of inanimate beings comes the creation of living beings: fish, birds, land animals, and the crowning achievement, man and woman, made in God’s image and likeness. They are special, for they are also put in charge of the whole of creation, for the task of working for the integrity of creation is heavy with responsibilities.
Opening Prayer
God, creator of all that is,
thank you for creating human beings
in your image and likeness.
Let it mean for us
that we are not only capable
of love and goodness, mercy and generosity,
but that in your image, we can use
our hearts and imagination
to be creative and inventive
in loving, giving and forgiving
and in forming a community,
like you, our living God, now and for ever. Amen!
1 Reading – GENESIS 1:20—2:4a
God said, “Let the water teem with an abundance of living creatures, and on the earth let birds fly beneath the dome of the sky.” and so it happened: God created the great sea monsters and all kinds of swimming creatures with which the water teems, and all kinds of winged birds. God saw how good it was, and God blessed them, saying, “Be fertile, multiply, and fill the water of the seas; and let the birds multiply on the earth.” Evening came, and morning followed–the fifth day. Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth all kinds of living creatures: cattle, creeping things, and wild animals of all kinds.” and so it happened: God made all kinds of wild animals, all kinds of cattle, and all kinds of creeping things of the earth. God saw how good it was. Then God said: “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. Let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and the cattle, and over all the wild animals and all the creatures that crawl on the ground.” God created man in his image; in the divine image he created him; male and female he created them. God blessed them, saying: “Be fertile and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it. Have dominion over the fish of the sea, the birds of the air, and all the living things that move on the earth.” God also said: “See, I give you every seed-bearing plant all over the earth and every tree that has seed-bearing fruit on it to be your food; and to all the animals of the land, all the birds of the air, and all the living creatures that crawl on the ground, I give all the green plants for food.” And so it happened. God looked at everything he had made, and he found it very good. Evening came, and morning followed–the sixth day. Thus the heavens and the earth and all their array were completed. Since on the seventh day God was finished with the work he had been doing, he rested on the seventh day from all the work he had undertaken. So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work he had done in creation. Such is the story of the heavens and the earth at their creation.
Responsorial PSALM 8:4-5, 6-7, 8-9
R. (2ab) O Lord, our God, how wonderful your name in all the earth!
When I behold your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars which you set in place—
What is man that you should be mindful of him,
or the son of man that you should care for him? R.
You have made him little less than the angels,
and crowned him with glory and honour.
You have given him rule over the works of your hands,
putting all things under his feet. R.
All sheep and oxen,
yes, and the beasts of the field,
The birds of the air, the fishes of the sea,
and whatever swims the paths of the seas. R.
Alleluia PSALM 119:36, 29b
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Incline my heart, O God, to your decrees;
And favour me with your law.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Gospel MARK 7:1-13
When the Pharisees with some scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus, they observed that some of his disciples ate their meals with unclean, that is, unwashed, hands. (For the Pharisees and, in fact, all Jews, do not eat without carefully washing their hands, keeping the tradition of the elders. And on coming from the marketplace they do not eat without purifying themselves. And there are many other things that they have traditionally observed, the purification of cups and jugs and kettles and beds.) So the Pharisees and scribes questioned him, “Why do your disciples not follow the tradition of the elders but instead eat a meal with unclean hands?” He responded, “Well did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites, as it is written: This people honours me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines human precepts. You disregard God’s commandment but cling to human tradition.” He went on to say, “How well you have set aside the commandment of God in order to uphold your tradition! For Moses said, Honour your father and your mother, and Whoever curses father or mother shall die. Yet you say, ‘If someone says to father or mother, “Any support you might have had from me is qorban”‘ (meaning, dedicated to God), you allow him to do nothing more for his father or mother. You nullify the word of God in favour of your tradition that you have handed on. And you do many such things.”
Commentary
Truth without charity is brutality
Today’s gospel discusses the value of the “tradition of the elders”, and Jesus cautions his listeners that these traditions must never precede God’s commandment.
Pope Francis explains this passage and says, “Today Jesus wants to caution us too, against the belief that outward observance of the commandments is enough to make us good Christians. The religious leadership of the time – the Pharisees and scribes- observed these norms extremely scrupulously and presented them as the expression of authentic religiosity. Therefore, they rebuked Jesus and his disciples for transgressing them, specifically the norms regarding the external purification of the body (v. 5).
It is hypocritical to consider ourselves acceptable or better than others simply for observing the rules and customs but fail to love our neighbour, and we are hard of heart, we are arrogant and proud. Literal observance of the precepts is a fruitless exercise unless we return to the Word of God in prayer, seeking justice and peace and taking care of the poor.
We come across people in our communities and our parishes, who say they are deeply Catholic and often go to Church, but then neglect their families, speak badly of others and use uncharitable ways to add to their profits. This is what Jesus condemns because this is a counter-witness to Christianity.
Pharisaic hypocrisy has survived through the centuries and is evident even in our lives today. In our attempts to project ourselves as better Christians than others, we belittle the lives of our brothers and sisters.
Jesus accused the Pharisees and scribes of abandoning God’s word by substituting their own arguments and interpretations. The Law of Moses was turned into a burden for the ordinary believer. Similar things happen in the Church today: how often do we use the Word of God to frighten people? Many sermons today frighten the listeners of the impending punishments of God. We don’t believe in a punishing God but a forgiving and merciful God. And His mercy does not depend on any conditions.
God, in his mercy, freely offers us pardon, healing, and grace for overcoming sin and evil. John the evangelist, in his first letter, beautifully explains the forgiveness of God: “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:8-9). Let us ask the Lord to cleanse us with the purifying fire of his Holy Spirit.
“Lord, let me dwell in your presence and fill me with the knowledge of your truth and goodness. Instruct my heart that I may walk in your way of love and holiness.”
Intentions
– That we may recognize and respect God’s image in those who fail in life and in those handicapped in body and mind, we pray:
– That we may work together to make our world a beautiful and pleasant place to live in, we pray:
– That our people, Christians and others, may not let senseless advertising lead them to consumerism but keep living in simplicity and moderation, we pray:
Prayer over the Gifts
Creative God,
We are close to your creation
and you let us use bread and wine
to let your Son, Jesus, celebrate with us
his life and death and our life and death
and all our joys and sorrows,
our work and our thoughts
and our relationships with you and one another
as a response of love to you
and a joyful song of praise.
Accept all these through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen!
Prayer after Communion
God, our loving Creator,
in your word of tenderness, you have made us
your sons and daughters
and partners with you in your creation.
In answer to your word that said:
“It is very good,”
may the whole community of the Church
and all of humankind give you thanks and say,
“Yes, Lord, it is very good.”
May we keep ourselves, our Church, our world
very good and pleasing to you.
Smile on us through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen!
Blessing
We have been born of the love of God. Let us keep living in his love, with the blessing of Almighty God, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!