'Various Smartmen'
...dem could come along too
As I read Mark 7: 1-13, in preparation for presiding at a service later today, I thought of this line in David Rudder’s song ‘Ganges and the Nile’ - Various smart men, …., dem could come along too.
In the Gospel narrative Jesus confronts the Pharisees and scribes, revealing the danger of empty rituals and traditions that neglect the true heart of God's commandments. Isn’t that so true for all of us - we hide behind culture, tradition and for the sake of business, in order to escape living God’s commandments.
This passage challenges us to examine our own hearts and motives. Are we, like the Pharisees, more concerned with outward appearances, culture, traditions and business than with genuine obedience to God's will? Do we focus on rituals while neglecting the weightier matters of social justice, mercy, and faithfulness?
Take for instance industrial relations, carnival costumes, parang soca lyrics, do we measure them against virtue, values, religious tenets and social justice or do we jut say - ‘that is business’ - ‘that is the culture’ and then ‘receive ashes ‘cool, cool’?
I remember a Form 4 student at my Alma Mater - St Mary’s College (CIC), telling me, after I had explained, to the class, the difference between Integrity and Duplicity - ‘well then sir, I have never met someone with integrity’ - out of the mouth of babes.
Do we say as a senior executive at a successful global company, which makes - (it generated nearly $74 billion in profits in 2023, compared to nearly $60 billion in net profits in 2022, and $76 billion in net profits in 2021), when laying off 12,000 workers - it is just about efficiency.
Do we refer to a Carnival costume that just covers the bare essentials - ‘it is just a costume, is mas’. And what about a parang soca lyric that one has to try to avoid thinking the obvious - and be greeted with the response - it is all in your mind.
Jesus calls us to a deeper, more authentic faith—one that is rooted in love for God and love for our neighbors. It's not enough to hide behind culture, tradition and business; we must allow God to transform our hearts and guide our actions. May we strive to live out our faith with sincerity and integrity, honoring God not only with our lips but with our whole lives.