2/9/2016 – Tuesday of the fifth week in Ordinary Time – Mark 7:1-13

       I recently saw an article on Facebook that a freshman at Catholic University in Washington, DC posted.  It was entitled: “The Diocese of Marquette takes a brave stand.”  It recounted how Bishop John Doerfler of Marquette, Michigan had released an Instruction on Sacred Music in Divine Worship entitled, “Sing to the Lord, All the Earth.”  The bishop explained how he was taking steps to promote sacred music in his diocese.  He outlined how the parishes and schools of his diocese will be required to chant the Ordinary parts in the Roman Missal, specifically the Kyrie, Sanctus and Agnus Dei from the Missa Jubilate Deo in Latin. The parishes and the Catholic schools in the Diocese of Marquette will be required to chant the Communion Antiphon in English in a simple tone.  The chancery office in Marquette will be developing a Diocesan Hymnal that will, in their words, “ensure the musical quality and doctrinal integrity” of their music.  This college freshman, who was born more than 30 years after the Second Vatican Council was held, applauded this move as a way of upholding the sacred tradition of our Catholic faith. Indeed, there is a great discussion today of how we can honor the traditions of our Catholic faith and touch the hearts of the faithful in the modern world.  Are they traditions created by God? Or are they traditions created by man?  I say this, having just gotten back from literally following the steps of an ancient tradition, of journeying as a pilgrim along a route that pilgrims have been hiking for more than a thousand years.  I have a great love of a lot of the traditions and devotions of our Catholic faith.  

      In the Gospel today, some Pharisees and scribes who are strongly attached to the traditions, criticize Jesus for the conduct of his disciples, as the Pharisees see them as not following the traditions of the elders, eating their meals with unclean hands. These Pharisees and scribes seem very sincere in the motives, but Jesus explains to them that these purifying rituals only have true meaning as long as the reflect the purity of our hearts.  Indeed, our sacred traditions and rituals have meaning and significance as long as these outward signs reflect what is going on inside of us.  Should we only sing chants in Latin in our mass?  Should we only sing modern praise music?  Could there not be a balance of the two, since music may touch the souls of the faithful in very different ways?   Obviously, this is not a discussion that will easily be resolved.