“Good has Isaiah prophesied about you…” (Matthew 15:1-8)
Biblical reflections by Mauro Leonardi*, priest and writer
The branch does not bear fruit by itself; this truth, as simple as it is profound, guides us in understanding the love that Jesus wants to give us and towards which he wants to direct us: a generous and free love, made of sharing and unity.
From the Gospel according to Matthew 15:1-8
At that time some Pharisees and some scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said to him: «Why do your disciples transgress the tradition of the ancients? Because they don't wash their hands when they take food! And he answered them: «Why do you transgress the commandment of God in the name of your tradition? God said: Honor your father and mother and also: Whoever curses his father and mother must be put to death. Instead you assert: Whoever says to his father or mother: What I should help you with is offered to God, is no longer obliged to honor his father or mother. So you have canceled the word of God in the name of your tradition. Hypocrites! Isaiah prophesied well about you, saying: This people honors me with their lips but their heart is far from me.
* Mauro Leonardi (Como 1959) has been a priest since 29 May 1988 and has lived in Rome since then. He spends many hours of his day as a priest and prefers building bridges rather than raising walls. For years he has been writing stories, articles, essays and books that revolve around the relationship between man and God. Author of the blog Like Jesus. Abelis (Lindau) is his latest novel. The volunteers of the Gionata Project thank him for wanting to share these reflections on the Word with us.
