Irony

Homily for Tuesday in the Fifth Week of Ordinary Time

One of the more skillful aspects of St. Mark’s writing ability is his use of irony. Throughout the Gospel, we find examples of this figure of speech over and over again. Today’s Gospel text is one such example of St. Mark’s use of irony.

The Pharisees challenge Jesus and his disciples for not obeying the traditions of the elders. Usually, the Pharisees are challenging Jesus about observance of the Mosaic law. That is not the case in today’s Gospel text. They had elevated traditional behavior to the level of law, so much so that they declare that the disciples’ hands are unclean. The hands of the disciples may have been dirty or soiled, but the Pharisees use the word unclean which is an important element in the Mosaic law. The irony lies in the fact that they are challenging the Son of God about obedience to the human traditions.

Jesus excoriates the Pharisees for their hypocrisy, for they teach as doctrine things that are merely human traditions. He accuses them of disregarding God’s commandments but clinging to human tradition.

There is nothing wrong with human tradition. Certain human traditions provide us with ways to celebrate important events and holidays. However, if we let the observance of traditions become an obstacle to charity, then we have defeated the purpose of observing traditions. The law of charity, of love for one another and for God must be placed above everything else.

Jesus demonstrated this so graphically when he washed the feet of the disciples on the night before he died. The one they called “master” took on the role of the servant. This is precisely the kind of leadership that is needed in society and in the church. As we receive communion today, let us welcome our master into our hearts, hearts free of hypocrisy and criticism of others.