"This people honours me only with lip-service, while their hearts are far from me. The worship they offer me is worthless, the doctrines they teach are only human regulations." (Mark 7:6-7 citing Isaiah 29:13)
In Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus attacks the ritual washing of the Pharisees and scribes as empty, man-made ceremonies.
Jesus does not want us to wash our hands but he himself wants to wash our hearts, so we can serve the needy.
In the second reading St James describes authentic religious "washing", which leads us to service: "Pure, unspoilt religion, in the eyes of God our Father is this: coming to the help of orphans and widows when they need it, and keeping oneself uncontaminated by the world." (1:27)
