First Reading
Dt 4,1-2.6-8
Moses said to the people: “now, Israel, listen to the norms and laws which I teach that
you may put them into practice. And you will live and enter and take possession of the
land, which Yahweh, the God of your fathers, gives you. Do not add anything to what
I command you nor take anything away from it. But keep the commandments of
Yahweh, your God, as I command you. If you observe and practice them, other
peoples will regard you as wise and intelligent. When they come to know of all these
laws, they will say, "There is no people as wise and as intelligent as this great nation."
For in truth, is there a nation as great as ours, whose gods are as near to it as Yahweh,
our God, is to us whenever we call upon him? And is there a nation as great as ours
whose norms and laws are as just as this Law which I give you today?
Responsorial Psalm
Those who walk blamelessly
and do what is right,
who speak truth from their heart
and control their words,
who do no harm to their neighbours
and cast no discredit on their companions,
and control their words,
who do no harm to their neighbours
and cast no discredit on their companions,
who look down on evildoers
but highly esteem God's servants;
who at all cost stand by a pledged word,
who look down on evildoers
but highly esteem God's servants;
who at all cost stand by a pledged word,
who do not lend money at interest
and refuse a bribe against the innocent.
Do this, and you will soon be shaken.
Second Reading
Jas 1,17-18.21-27
Every good and perfect gift comes from above, from the Father of Light, in whom
there is no change or shadow of a change. By his own will he gave us life through the
Word of Truth, that we might be a kind of offering to him among his creatures. So get
rid of any filth and reject the prevailing evil, and welcome the Word, which has been
planted in you and has the power to save you. Be doers of the Word and not just
hearers, lest you deceive yourselves. In the sight of God, our Father, pure and
blameless religion lies in helping the orphans and widows in their need and keeping
oneself from the world's corruption.
Gospel
Mk 7,1-8.14-15.21-23
One day the Pharisees gathered around Jesus and with them were some teachers of the
Law who had just come from Jerusalem. They noticed that some of his disciples were
eating their meal with unclean hands, that is, without washing them. Now the
Pharisees, and in fact, all the Jews, never eat without washing their hands for they
follow the tradition received from their ancestors. Nor do they eat anything when they
come from the market without first washing themselves. And there are many other
traditions they observe, for example, the ritual washing of cups, pots and plates. So the
Pharisees and the teachers of the Law asked him, "Why do your disciples not follow
the tradition of the elders, but eat with unclean hands?" Jesus answered, "You, shallow
people! How well Isaiah prophesied of you when he wrote: This people honours me
with their lips, but their heart is far from me. The worship they offer me is worthless,
for what they teach are only human rules. You even put aside the commandment of
God to hold fast to human tradition." Jesus then called the people to him again and
said to them, "Listen to me, all of you, and try to understand. Nothing that enters one
from outside can make that person unclean. It is what comes out from within that
makes unclean. For evil designs come out of the heart: theft, murder, adultery,
jealousy, greed, maliciousness, deceit, indecency, slander, pride and folly. All these
evil things come from within and make a person unclean."