Reading and meditation on the Word of God on Tuesday of the fifth week in ordinary time, February 10th, 2026, Memorial of Saint Scholastica, Virgin

Delivered by Leon from the Parish of Santa Helena in the Archdiocese of Jakarta, Indonesia. 1 Kings 8: 22-23.27-30; Rs psalm 84: 3.4.5.10.11; Mark 7: 1-13.ACTION SPEAKS AGAINSTLIPS The title for ourmeditation today is: Action Speaks Against Lips. A young girl has been datingfor three years with a young man who is studying law. Lately the girl becamedisappointed with the attitude of that competent and smart young man. The youngman speaks very alluring and makes many promises, but the realization of themis zero. She and her hope will only be devastated if the young man's love isonly on the lips, and ultimately can not be proven. She always reminds herboyfriend: love is not the matter of "action speaks against lips". This teenage girl'scriticism is only a small portion of Jesus' great criticism towards thePharisees and the scribes in the scriptures. They descended from Jerusalem towhere Jesus was about hundreds kilometers away with the intention of provingthat Jesus and His followers violated Jewish customary and religious rules. Therule they emphasized was human interpretation of God's command from Moses. Forexample, they found the apostles of Jesus did not wash their hands beforeeating. Hypocrisy is afitting word for pharisees and scribes. Jesus immediately stated that theirworst offense was betraying the true word of God. For example, commands fromMoses to respect and love one’s parents, especially those who suffer and insickness in their own family. The actual costs for treating this family member,were diverted for various types of taxes in the synagogue. The people wererequired to fulfill this and apparently the money was for their greed. Thistype of corruption has become their life-style and even continued until now. Their motivation wasmoney. Their religious life was not to sanctify humans through obedience toGod's word and doing His will, but to earn money through religious practices.To reinforce this main strategy they must concoct all the numerous appliedrules, including those mentioned earlier, to wash all food and drink utensilsand hands. Their appearance must be pure, their lips and mouth must speak well,and their gestures must be perfect. People must believe in them and werecompelled to always obey the synagogue taxes. This is what Jesus stronglyopposed and condemned. King Solomon repeatedGod's main intention was to live forever on this earth with mankind, but not inhypocritical humans like the Pharisees and the scribes. Only truth that makesthe kingdom of God great in the world, not hypocrisy. Let's pray. In the name of the Father... O Jesus Christ, strengthen us to be able to resist all the falsehood weface in life. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the holy Spirit ...In the name of the Father ...