Tuesday February 11th: Missing the heart of God’s law

“This people honours me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the precepts of men.”

Mark 7:1-13

Jesus highlights an issue, that is very prevalent today. We often pay more attention to culture, tradition and political alliances than the genuine expressions of faith.
The Pharisees had turned traditions into religious practices, missing the heart of God’s law: love, mercy, and justice. Jesus gives an example of how they manipulate the law to avoid caring for parents, showing how human schemes can sometimes be used to sidestep God’s true will.
We see this often in the news, persons using ‘in the name of God’ to justify actions that are not of God. We cling to worldly alliances that serve our convenience rather than God’s call to love and holiness.
True faith is not about calling God’s name, but about seeking a heart-to-heart relationship with God. Rituals and traditions have their place, but should never overshadow the commandments of love, justice, and mercy. Jesus calls us to examine our hearts and ensure that our worship is sincere, not just a show.
May we strive to keep our hearts close to God, living out our faith in a way that reflects His love and truth in all we do.