First Reading (Genesis 1,20-2,4a).
Reading of the Book of Genesis.
God said: “Let the waters teem with living beings, and let birds fly over the earth, under the expanse of the sky.” God created the great sea monsters and all the living beings that swim in multitudes in the waters, according to their kinds, and all the birds, according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. And God blessed them, saying: “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the waters of the sea, and let the birds multiply on the earth.” There was an afternoon and a morning: fifth day. God said, “Let the earth bring forth living creatures according to their kinds, domestic animals, reptiles and wild animals according to their kinds.” And so it was done. God made wild animals according to their kinds, domestic animals according to their kinds, and all the creeping things of the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. God said, “Let us make man in our image and in our likeness, that they may rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” And God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him: male and female he created them. And God blessed them and said to them: “Be fruitful and multiply, fill the earth and subdue it! Rule over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the sky and over every living creature that moves on the earth.” And God said, “Behold, I give you every seed-bearing plant on the earth, and every tree that bears fruit with its seed, to be food for you. And to every beast of the earth, and to every bird of the land. heaven, and to everything that moves on the earth and is animated with life, I give all vegetables for food.” And so it was done. And God saw everything that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. There was an evening and a morning: sixth day. 2,And thus heaven and earth were completed with all their host. On the seventh day, God considered all the work he had done to be finished; and on the seventh day he rested from all the work he had done. God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because on that day he rested from all the work of creation. This is the story of heaven and earth when they were created.
– Word of the Lord.
– Thank God.
Gospel (Mark 7,1-13).
Proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Mark.
— Glory to you, Lord.
At that time, the Pharisees and some teachers of the Law came from Jerusalem and gathered around Jesus. They saw that some of his disciples ate the bread with unclean hands, that is, without having washed them. In fact, the Pharisees and all Jews only eat after washing their hands thoroughly, following the tradition received from the ancients. When they return from the square, they don’t eat without taking a shower. And they follow many other customs that they received by tradition: the right way to wash cups, vases and copper vessels. The Pharisees and teachers of the Law then asked Jesus: “Why do your disciples not follow the tradition of the ancients, but eat bread without washing their hands?” Jesus replied: “Isaiah prophesied well about you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. The worship they give me is of no use, for the doctrines they teach are precepts. humans’. You abandon the commandment of God to follow the tradition of men”. And he said to them: “You know very well how to nullify the commandment of God, in order to keep your traditions. Indeed, Moses commanded: ‘Honor your father and your mother’. And again: ‘Whoever curses his father or his mother, must die.’ But you teach that it is lawful for someone to say to his father and his mother: ‘The sustenance that you could receive from me is Corban, that is, Consecrated to God’. And that person is exempt from helping his father or his mother. So you empty the Word of God with the tradition that you transmit. And you do many other things like these.”
— Word of Salvation.
— Glory to you, Lord.
Reflecting the Word of God
Brothers and sisters in Christ,
I would like to begin our reflection today with a powerful image: imagine yourself in front of a magnificent painting. With every detail you observe, you discover more beauty, more complexity, more depth. This is the Creator’s masterpiece — the world, the universe, and, at the center of it all, us, made in the image and likeness of God. Today’s readings invite us to meditate on the grandeur of divine creation and the responsibility we have to honor the Creator not only with words, but with our hearts, seeking a living and genuine faith.
In the first reading, taken from Genesis, we follow the sixth day of creation, when God brought the creatures of the earth into existence and, finally, man and woman, marking the climax of His work. This narrative is not just a poetic account of the origin of the world; it is an invitation to contemplate the order, harmony and intrinsic goodness of creation. Every detail — from the lion’s roar to the gentle afternoon breeze, from the lapping of the waves to the twinkling of the stars — reveals God’s signature. When we read that, in the end, God looked at everything He had made and saw that it was “very good,” we are called to do the same: stop and recognize the beauty and purpose of everything around us.
But do we have time to do this? In a fast-paced world, full of distractions and noise, how many times do we allow ourselves to look at the sky and be grateful for the miracle of the day? How often do we recognize God’s hand in the little things—a child’s smile, a friend’s unexpected kindness, or even the silence that invites us to prayer?
This narrative also teaches us something profound about our identity. By saying that we were created in the image and likeness of God, Genesis reminds us that we carry a divine spark within us. Each of us has intrinsic value and a unique purpose. We are called to be caretakers of creation, to collaborate with God in maintaining the harmony that He has established. But how have we handled this responsibility? Have we respected nature, valued the gifts that God gave us, or, at times, have we acted like consumers, exploring without reflecting?
And here comes Mark’s gospel, which offers us an essential warning. Jesus, when confronting the Pharisees, denounces the danger of a religion lived only on the surface, where human traditions replace the heart of faith. The Pharisees, concerned with external issues, criticize Jesus’ disciples for not following certain purification rituals. But Jesus responds with a trenchant quote from the prophet Isaiah: “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.”
Here we have a powerful contrast: while Genesis shows us a God who creates with perfection and love, the gospel reminds us that we can often obscure this perfection with our human failings. Jesus’ criticism of the Pharisees was not about the rituals themselves — after all, many traditions have value and meaning. The problem was when these rituals became empty, disconnected from a heart that truly seeks God.
How many times, brothers, have we ourselves fallen into this error? How often is our religious practice more of a habit than an act of love? We go to mass, we pray the rosary, we follow the commandments, but do we do all this with our hearts turned to God, or just out of habit? Could it be that, like the Pharisees, we sometimes give more importance to appearances than to essence?
Jesus calls us to an authentic faith, which comes from the heart and transforms our lives. He invites us to go beyond formalities to live a true relationship with God. This means reflecting on our intentions and actions. Are we really loving God above all things and our neighbors as ourselves? Or are we just fulfilling obligations, hoping that will be enough?
Let’s think of a leafy tree. It may look healthy on the outside, with green leaves and a sturdy trunk, but if the roots are compromised it will eventually die. This is also the case with our faith: it may appear beautiful externally, but if it is not rooted in a sincere heart and in a life of charity and love, it will not withstand trials.
So how can we apply these truths to our lives today? First, we are called to renew our vision of creation. Let’s take time to contemplate the world around us and thank God for its wonders. This is not only a spiritual practice, but also a way to reconnect with our role as caretakers of what God has entrusted to us.
Second, we need to examine our hearts and our religious practices. We must ask ourselves: am I seeking God sincerely or just performing rituals? Am I living my faith in a way that transforms my life and the lives of others? These questions require courage, but they are essential for us to draw closer to God.
Finally, we are called to act. It is not enough to recognize that we need to change; we must take concrete steps. Maybe this means dedicating more time to personal prayer, looking for ways to serve others, or even reflecting on how our actions impact the environment. Every small step is an act of praise to the Creator.
We close our reflection with an image: that of the creation that God saw as “very good” and the faith that Jesus calls us to live authentically. May we unite these two truths in our lives, recognizing the beauty of God’s work and responding to it with a living, sincere and transforming faith.
Let us pray together: Lord, thank you for the beauty of creation and the gift of life. Help us to honor You not just with our lips, but with all our hearts. Purify our intentions, strengthen our faith and make us faithful caretakers of Your world. May our lives be a reflection of Your love and a light to those around us. Amen.
