HOMILY FOR THE MEMORIAL OF SAINT MARY VIANNEY. 04.08.2020.

St. John Mary Vianney

Readings: Jeremiah 30:1-2.12-15.18-22; Psalm 102 and Matthew 15:1-2.10-14. 

THE HEART OF MAN

 

With the present pandemic, many have come to appreciate the proper hygiene of washing hands. Even as we awaits the reopening of religious gatherings, one of the criterias for the opening of churches is to have a running tap with water and soap for washing of hands. How does these cuts across our liturgy of today?

 

In the gospel, we read that the Pharisees and Scribes came to Jesus saying, “Why do your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat.” This tradition exposes to us the pure and impure law of the Jewish culture. This Jewish culture had nothing to do with good hygiene but the Pharisees and Scribes were just after the disciples of Christ, seeking for what to use against Christ and his disciples, and so, they became offended that the disciples did not practice the tradition of the elders by washing hands before meal. Their claim gave room for Christ to teach us about internal and external religiosity. He said, “Hear and understand: not everything that goes into the mouth defiles a man, but what comes out of the mouth, this defile a man.” Practically, eating with unclean hands is not what defiles us; rather, what comes out of us speaks more loudly, of how pure or impure our hearts is. Invariably, is not enough to practice washing or purifying of hands in a ceremonial way, it more important to purify our hearts and minds, from which good and evil thoughts are realized.

 

Christ sees beyond the washing of hands to minister to some of us that are more religious outwardly, but deep within us is full of evil. If our hearts can be open for our friends and neighbours to see the plans we have for them, or we see the plans they have for us, then we shall know those that are truly pure in heart. This is not farfetched among us; it is common in religious communities and common in family life where brothers seats together, eat together, laugh with each other but behind, they stab one another. Sometimes, this reflect among priests and religious communities. However, we are called today to learn from Saint John Mary Vianney, who was a priest that is pure in heart.

 

He was born in France in 1786, known to be very poor academically in his seminary days. Eventually he was ordained and his life of holiness, preaching, prayer and penance transformed the parish of Ars he was working and thousands of people comes to him for the sacrament of reconciliation. He died in 1859 and he is known as the patron of all priests. We pray through his intercession that in serving God, we should have great concern of the purity of heart than ceremonial washing of hands through Christ our Lord. Amen! Peace be with you!

 

Fr. Ken Dogbo, OSJ