Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Hand Washing
At first glance, the Pharisees’ question for Jesus regarding hand washing before meals seems valid. It evokes the Far Side cartoon of the man exiting the bathroom and a “did not wash his hands” alarm going off. There are certain public health considerations that we perform in common, and hand washing is the bare minimum.
But the last thing this passage is about is hand washing. A common phrase goes, “You are rarely upset for the reason you think.” And Jesus points that out to the religious leaders. If the Pharisees were truly honest, they would see that Jesus and his disciples were far surpassing them when it comes to the commands of God. The Pharisees instead have chosen to focus on merely human rules. Jesus underscores that elsewhere: “You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel” (Matthew 23:24).
What about today? Are we so concerned with being rule followers that we forget that the gospel message is ultimately about grace and justice? When our communities look at how we conduct ourselves, do they see a people so concerned with “right living” that we have neglected the things closest to the heart of Christ? Or do they see a people who have decided to place first things first and prioritize love over law?
Wash your hands? Yes, please. Feed the hungry, and shelter the homeless poor? Do that above all else.
Jason Andersen, (now president, Western District Executive Board)
pastor, Christian Faith Moravian Church
DeForest, Wisconsin