Readings for Proper 17B:
Psalm 15; Mark 7:1-23
September 3, 2006
The Rev. Karen Siegfriedt
St. Jude the Apostle Episcopal Church, Cupertino, CA
Jesus said: “There is nothing outside a person that by going in can defile, but the things that come out are what defile … For it is from within, from the human heart, that evil intentions come.” [Mk. 7]
Have you ever heard of the 5-second rule? I had never heard of this rule until I came to California. The five second rule states that if a piece of food lands on the floor and is picked up within 5 seconds, then it can be eaten without any fear of contamination or getting sick. My hunch is, this rule was made up by parents who have taught their children not to eat anything off the ground. However, when a valuable piece of food does hit the ground, they need an exception to the general rule so that both they and the child do not feel guilty about eating the fallen piece of food. There was actual research done to determine whether the 5-second rule was scientifically sound. I heard a summary of these findings on the radio. The findings were confusing and by the end of the broadcast, it wasn’t clear to me whether or not the 5-second rule was valid. So, I don’t know how to advise you.
However, after reading today’s gospel, I think Jesus really believed in the 5-second rule. Jesus was not concerned about what entered into the digestive system. Perhaps he felt that the digestive enzymes and stomach acid would take care of most abuses. He was however, very concerned about what came out of a person; in particular, what came out of the human heart. His lack of concern for cleanliness and ritual purity was an offense to the conservative elements of Judaism. His disregard for cherished purity codes is probably one of the reasons they finally killed him. Let’s take a closer look at the gospel and see if we can make sense out of what is clean and what is unclean.
For thousands of years, Jewish culture and religion was very concerned about purity codes. They divided the world into two spheres: the clean and the unclean. To be clean or pure or undefiled meant that you were without sin; holy and pleasing to the Lord. To be unclean or defiled meant that you were sinful, impure, and alienated from God and the community of faith. People, animals, places, and things were divided into these two spheres of clean and unclean.
For instance, all Gentiles (i.e. non-Jews) were unclean while most Jews were clean. However, a Jew would become unclean if s/he had leprosy, oozing sores, or bodily discharges such as semen, menstrual flow, and excretions following childbirth. These discharges from the human body made a person unclean and if the unclean person touched other people or certain objects, they too would become unclean. A dead human body was the most serious source of defilement and if touched, would make a person unclean for 7 days.
Certain animals were deemed unclean such as the camel, the rock badger, the rabbit, and the pig. Shellfish were considered unclean as well as most insects, although grasshoppers and locusts were O.K. A person became defiled by eating, touching, or carrying these unclean animals. So what did a person do when s/he became unclean?
In order to purify oneself of uncleanness, there were specific procedures for purification. This included a waiting period, such as one day after intercourse, 7-14 days after childbirth depending on the sex of the child, or if it was a secondary infection (i.e. being touched by an unclean person), then the waiting period for most purifications was until sundown. Usually, a cleansing agent such as water or fire was required to complete the purification process. In some cases (e.g. following childbirth) a sacrifice of an animal in the temple was required.
Today, in 21st century America, we think of these old purity codes and traditions as strange and inconvenient. And yet, we have our own purity codes. Many of our purity codes center on infectious control. We are not as worried about being unholy unto the Lord but we are very concerned about catching colds and sexually transmitted diseases. Our purity codes include washing our hands, covering our mouth when we cough, and being tested for HIV and syphilis before engaging in sexual relationships. We have purity codes regarding food, although these codes change every few years. Today, sugar, fat, and salt is “out” while high fiber, protein, and whole grains are “in.” Transfat is the latest “no-no” along with French fries, hostess cupcakes, and cheetos. Thank goodness we can eat butter now. I never did like margarine!
Our looks are also part and parcel of our purity codes. People are spending thousands of dollars on diets, exercise regimes, and plastic surgery. If you are in research or academia, looks are not as important as the purity codes surrounding education. There is an unspoken rule about what universities are acceptable and what universities are not. Researchers or professors who do not graduate from “the right” university are either not hired or taken seriously. Purity codes extend into our selection of neighborhoods, school districts, and friendships. It is into this context of inclusion and exclusion, clean and unclean, acceptable and unacceptable, that Jesus gives us today’s teaching on the human heart.
Jesus and his disciples have been in the midst of an intense and demanding Galilean ministry. The sick are being healed, the hungry are being fed, and the outcasts are given good news. A delegation of religious dignitaries from Jerusalem come to evaluate Jesus and his disciples. Instead of being amazed at their good works, they criticize them for not washing their hands before they eat. Having mixed with the crowds, Jesus and his disciples are probably very unclean. They have touched gentiles, bleeding women, lepers, and dead people. This means that according to their religious tradition, they are unclean, and thus unworthy before the Lord. It is this kind of thinking that Jesus begins to challenge even though it has been part of the religious tradition for over one thousand years.
Jesus criticizes the Pharisees and scribes for being concerned about externals and not having enough concern about the purity of the heart. Exploitation of others, improper speech, deception, pride, envy, and harm done to other people’s property and person are evil things that come from within and it is these harmful actions and thoughts that defile a person. Jesus tells them to focus on these areas rather than externals that cause no harm.
Today’s gospel calls us to take a serious look at the state of our heart. Are you spending significant time and effort working on repentance, forgiveness, right action, right thinking, right speech, right intention, service to others, and holiness of life? Are these the major concerns you have for your children or are you more focused on externals? Instead of asking others: “Do I look good?” You might ask yourself: “Is it well with my soul?”
Recently, I received (from at least ten people) a copy of the New York Times article regarding women in the ministry. The article reports that most Christian Churches do not hire a woman as the senior pastor, especially if the church is a large one. Women ministers hit what is called the “stain glass ceiling.” Within most Christian Churches, there are purity codes regarding the hiring of a minister: Male is better than female. Married is better than single. Younger is better than older. Having children is better than not. Straight is better than gay. And if the minister is tall, dark, and handsome, you have hit the jackpot.
Nowhere in the service of ordination are these kind of values expressed. The qualities that determine the purity of a priest center around such things as: Being diligent in the reading and study of the Holy Scriptures, ministering the Word of God and sacraments that the reconciling love of Christ may be known and received, being a faithful pastor, patterning one’s life in accordance with the teachings of Christ, persevering in prayer, asking God’s grace both for self and others, offering one’s labors to God through the mediation of Jesus Christ and the sanctification of the Holy Spirit. [BCP 531]
So, is it well with your soul? Will you continue in the apostle’s teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of break, and in the prayers? Will you persevere in resisting evil and whenever you fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord? Will you proclaim by word and example, the Good news of God in Christ? Will you seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving your neighbor as yourself? Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being? These are the major concerns in today’s gospel. These are the purity codes that will make us holy unto the Lord.
“Lord, who may dwell in your tabernacle? Who may abide upon your holy hill? Whoever leads a blameless life and does what is right, who speaks the truth from his heart.” [Psalm 15]
| Updated 9/07/06 |
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