When the Pharisees and some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus, they noticed that some of his disciples were eating with defiled hands, that is, without washing them. For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, do not eat unless they thoroughly wash their hands, thus observing the tradition of the elders; and they do not eat anything from the market unless they wash it; and there are also many other traditions that they observe, the washing of cups, pots, and bronze kettles. So the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, “Why do your disciples not live according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands?” Jesus said to them, “Isaiah prophesied rightly about you hypocrites, as it is written, ‘This people honours me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching human precepts as doctrines.’ You abandon the commandment of God and hold to human tradition.”
Mark 7.1-8.
I was talking with my oldest grandchild last week. I mentioned to her that many years ago when I was about her age, I walked across a high school dance floor to ask a young lady to dance. That young lady was her grandmother. My granddaughter smiled at me and said …. “That’s just really scary. Thinking of you …. dancing!”
So what has that got to do with today’s scripture readings?
Perhaps it is because I sense that at the very heart of my faith, and perhaps of yours too, is one simple desire.
We wish to dance with the Creator.
The core essence of spirituality is the desire to touch God. To hold on to God. And more importantly, to be touched by God. To be held in God’s arms as together we navigate the dance of life. To be gently guided in our steps. To feel safe and secure in God’s arms, in God’s love for us.
This metaphor of dance is not as wild as it may seem. Think back to when you were young and learning to dance. For me, like many others, at some point I needed to learn how to waltz. You all remember the pattern. Forward – side – together – back – side – together. Practice and practice so that when you get to the dance floor, you can show the girl you are trying to impress that you can dance! And as you dance with her and smile at her, inside your brain is a voice saying .. forward – side – together – back – side – together. And despite the smile on her face, inside her brain is a voice saying “try to follow …. I hope he doesn’t step on my feet … these shoes are killing me “
Sometimes prayer can be like that. We are so concerned with doing the steps exactly right that we never really enter the dance.
It took a while and a lot of practice before I realized that the secret of dancing is not to memorize the steps. Rather it is to discern the rhythm of your partner. So too with prayer. Sometimes we spend so much effort trying to follow the prescribed steps. that we never really discern the rhythm of our dance partner …the rhythm of God.
As Catholics, how many wonderful choices of “music” we have to dance with God to! The Mass. Lectio Divina. Liturgy of the Hours. The Rosary. The Chaplet of Divine Mercy. Walking in nature. Pondering Holy Scripture. Contemplation. Meditation. And so many more.
The point that Jesus was making to the Pharisees in today’s gospel was that getting perfect every step in the dance of prayer and worship is not the most important thing. In fact, striving for perfection gets in the way – because it makes the steps of the dance into the end desire, instead of just being a means – to the end desire of being one with the creator.
What is most important is being aware of our desire to dance with our creator. Knowing the right steps and executing them perfectly is not the essence of dance. Knowing the right steps and executing them perfectly is not the essence of prayer. Being held in the arms of God is. Discerning the rhythm of God is. It is so very easy to lose sight that what is at the very essence of our relationship with God is not the dance we choose. What matters is that we dance with the creator.
Many years ago I walked across a high school dance floor to ask a young lady to dance. I cannot remember the song that was playing. I cannot remember the dance steps. All I remember is that this beautiful young lady wanted to dance with me. And I remember how special that made me feel. And we danced. And half a century later, we are still dancing.
So too, with my faith life with God.
God and I have had many dances together … some slow dances where God held me in God’s arms. Other dances where I struggled to follow God’s lead, struggled to sense the rhythm of God, and I am sure that I stepped on God’s toes many, many times. And whether I danced with God at Mass, or in the Rosary, in praying the Divine Office or in quiet walks being bathed in the beauty of God’s creation – what is true is that I really don’t remember the music of life that was playing, or the steps of the dance of prayer.
All I remember is that, like that young lady so many years ago, God wanted to dance with me. And I remember how special that made me feel. And God and I danced. And half a century later, we are still dancing.
May your dance with God be as special for you.