Daily Reflection: Tuesday, February 6
Memorial of St. Paul Micki and Companions, Martyrs
When the Pharisees with some scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus, the observed that some of his disciples ate their meals with unclean, that is unwashed hands. (Mk 7:1-2)
The city Pharisees are refined people with good manners. And, they are very conscious of cleanliness and ritual purity. (Cleanliness is next to godliness.) They are put off by the rougher traditions of the country folk.
Our Lady Star of the Sea Church in Atlantic City has an early daily mass. There may be more “street people” in attendance than regular parishioners. Dirty hands.
Solomon built a beautiful temple in Jerusalem, The Temple, to be the dwelling place of God. The Church made of living stones, all kinds of people, is God’s dwelling place, but it cannot contain God. God, though the Incarnation, has made a home for himself in the whole human race. Dirty hands and all.
How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord, mighty God. (Ps 84:2)
John Frambes, ofm
Read also:
This week’s Letter from the Pastor
