It is an old illustration that I have used many times over the years, but it still true today. Snoopy is out for a jog. As he is jogging various parts of his body start proclaiming that they are the most important part of the body. The argument is that without them Snoopy could not jog. As Snoopy is jogging along the argument escalates with all the parts of the body wanting to be the most important part. The noise from the argument is deafening . . . and, Snoopy trudges on.
Then suddenly there is a loud scream. The voice behind the scream says, “Knock it off! This is the heart. Without me none of you is anything!” Stunned, the argument ceases and Snoopy jogs on in peace and quiet.
The creator of Peanuts, Charles M. Schultz, understands. He understands that it is the heart . . . or at least it should be . . . that leads when it comes to life. In Proverbs, chapter four, verse 23 it is written: “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” In chapter 27, verse 19 it says: “As water reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart.” And Jesus said: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:37-40) This is how Jesus understood life to be lived.
It was a habit of the heart.
So, here is what is going on in our scripture reading this morning. Some Pharisees and teachers of the law notice that some of Jesus’ disciples are eating food with unwashed hands. Appalled at the lack decorum and tradition of Jesus’ disciples they question Jesus about whether his disciples are too good to follow tradition . . . that would be washing their hands before eating. Jesus calls them hypocrites. He tells them that it is not the washing of the hands that is important, it is doing the right thing for the right reason.
Jesus understood that the argument was not in the fact that the disciples were eating to satisfy their hunger, but the fact that they were not following the rules. Following rules was more important to the Pharisees and lawyers than anything else because it signified power and control . . . as the keepers of the traditions, rules, and dogma rules were important in keeping control and power over the people. If people didn’t follow the rules it was an affront and challenge to their power and control over the people. So, they complained.
As far as Jesus was concerned, if the heart was in the right place there was no problem. How the disciples chose to eat did not reflect their love for God or others . . . it meant that they were hungry. What goes in wasn’t as important as what came out. Were the words found in Proverbs not true . . . “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”? “As water reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart.”?
Remember, for Jesus it was not so important what words were said, but what actions were taken. It was not what went in, it was what came out for the world to see. As far as Jesus was concerned, the Pharisees and lawyers were hypocrites . . . the words they spoke were not congruent with the way they treated people.
This is a sticky wicket when one considers it in the light of the times we are living. There is no shortage of examples in our times that display this contradiction that Jesus is speaking about . . . where words do not equate to the actions that we are witnessing. A lot of time and energy can be spent debating the issues facing humanity, the world, our nation, and even our communities as we all strive to deal with the issues crippling the world that we live in . . . and, still, nothing is accomplished. The ills of the world are still there. Nothing is really getting accomplished for the betterment of all involved. It all comes down to power and control, just as Jesus understood it for those in charge during his time . . . the Pharisees and lawyers.
Jesus wants his followers to habituate their hearts to will of God . . . to love God, to love themselves, and to love others. Jesus teaches his followers to live a life that is grounded in love. When the heart is grounded in love . . . centered in love, then the actions that one takes become the habits of the heart. These are the acts that define our love for God, ourselves, and others. We are to cloak ourselves in love . . . God’s love. This is what makes us who God created us to be.
In I Peter 3:3-4 the writer tells us: “Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.” It is the habits of the heart that defines our worth . . . for God, for ourselves, and others.
As the followers of Jesus let us not get caught up in the jostling for power and control . . . let us focus on the common good for all. Let us not waste time in arguing who is right or wrong but let us work together to solve the issues that provoke divisiveness and division. Let us work on developing those habits of the heart . . . those acts of showing God’s love for us . . . so that all know God’s presence and love. As the followers of Jesus let us be known by our love . . . and, love is action. These are the habits of the heart.
Without the heart there is nothing.
As Snoopy was jogging and the parts of the body were loudly arguing, they got the point when the heart reminded them . . . “Without me, there are none of you.” Jesus always gives us a lot to think about. It is our choice. Jesus is betting on getting the job done . . . habits of the heart. Amen.
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