Discussion Questions

First Reading

Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-8

F1. How would “wise and intelligent people” create the “statutes and decrees“ needed today to fulfill the “love your neighbor” part of the law (commandments 6-10), that God gave to Moses? Feed the hungry? Fix the climate change? Welcome the immigrant?

F2. Discuss some human rights issues that would change if everyone in the world observed the law (love your neighbor)? Would everyone have access to housing, clean water, clean air, good education, health care? How might your community or city change?

Second Reading

James 1:17-18, 21b-22, 27

S1. James says the law is planted in us. Would you like to see it planted in your mind or in your heart? What difference would it make? Discuss Karl Rahner’s statement: “in the heart of knowledge stands love, from which knowledge itself lives.”*

S2.  Are you a hearer of the word or also a doer of it? Have there been times when you just “talked the talk” but did not want to “walk the walk”? How would you feel if you went ahead and did the walking?

Gospel

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

G1. What was missing from the Pharisees’ observance of the law? How much is religious observance worth if it is just exterior? On the other hand, what is it worth if what you do comes from the Word living in your heart, whether it’s fishing or fasting?

G2. “And there are many other things that they have traditionally observed, the purification of cups and jugs and kettles and beds. … ” Why does Pope Francis say Jesus was not concerned with this? Was Jesus’ interest more with hearts than with kettles and beds and rubrics?

We too could ask ourselves: why do Jesus and his disciples disregard these traditions? … Why is Jesus not concerned with such things? Because for him it is important to bring faith back to its center. We see it repeatedly in the Gospel: this bringing faith back to the center. And to avoid a risk, which applies to those scribes as well as to us of observing outward formalities, putting the heart and faith in the background. Many times we too “put makeup” on our soul. Outward formality and not the heart of faith. This is a risk. It is the risk of a religiosity of appearances: looking good on the outside while neglecting to purify the heart. There is always the temptation to “deal with God” with some outward devotion, but Jesus does not settle for this worship. Jesus does not want outward appearances; he wants a faith that touches the heart.

Pope Francis
Angelus for the 22nd Sun Ord B

Anne Osdieck

**From Saint Louis University