Defying Custom

"I put no stock in religion. By the word 'religion' I have seen the lunacy of fanatics of every denomination be called the will of God. Holiness is in right action and courage on behalf of those who cannot defend themselves, and goodness. What God desires is here [points to head], and here [points to heart], and what you decide to do every day...you will be a good man...or not."
--Hospitalier (Kingdom of Heaven)

In last Sunday's gospel reading (Mark 7:1-23), the Pharisees and scribes challenged Jesus about his disciples' habit of not washing their hands before eating. Washing hands and cooking utensils was a custom of the elders. Not cleaning one's hands before eating could be viewed as a sign of defiance.

Christ rebuked the Pharisees, calling them hypocrites. He quoted Isaiah:

This people honors me with their lips,
but their hearts are from from me;
in vain do they worship me,
teaching human precepts as doctrines.

He is telling us that any worldly custom or man-made rule that contradicts God's law is not worth following

He concludes by telling the crowd that it is not what comes into a person from the outside that makes a person unclean. Evil comes from within. And so does goodness.

Defying custom may make not make us worldly friends. But if those customs interfere with us following Him, then they are better left behind.