When Traditions Forget the Heart

Reflection Date: February 10, 2026 Memorial of Saint Scholastica, Virgin 
Daily Readings: 1 Kings 8:22-23, 27-30, Mark 7:1-13

Children of God: Saint Scholastica was the twin sister of Saint Benedict of Nursia, the father of Western monasticism.

She dedicated her life to prayer and community, founding monasteries for women following the Benedictine way.

One famous story tells how she once asked her brother to stay longer in conversation about God.

When Benedict refused because of monastic rules, Scholastica prayed and a sudden storm prevented him from leaving. Benedict later realized that her love had greater power than strict discipline.

Scholastica is remembered not for writing a rule but for living one rooted in love.

She is the patron saint of nuns. Her feast reminds the Church that prayer flows from the heart. Her holiness was quiet, relational, and deeply sincere.

She died peacefully, and Benedict saw her soul rise to heaven like a dove. Her life shows that love fulfills the law.

Jesus addresses a tension similar to the one seen in the life of Scholastica. When the Pharisees and scribes saw that the disciples of Jesus ate their meals without washing their hands; for the Pharisees and scribes, it was being disobedient to the well-established traditions.

What are our inspirations for today?

First, faith becomes empty when traditions replace love and sincerity.

For the Pharisees and scribes, hand-washing before meals was an important religious tradition meant to preserve ritual purity, not simply hygiene. It symbolized obedience to the Law and respect for the holiness of everyday life.

This practice marked Jewish identity and separated the faithful from what was considered ritually unclean.

Over time, however, it risked being treated as an absolute requirement rather than a means to deepen one’s relationship with God.

When asked why his disciples did not wash their hands, Jesus quotes Isaiah, saying that people honor God with their lips while their hearts are far from him.

Meaning, external observance becomes hollow when the heart is absent.

Jesus points out how human traditions can overshadow God’s commandments (Mark 7:8).

When rules become an end in themselves, they lose their purpose. Faith then turns into performance rather than relationship.

This challenges believers to examine whether their practices draw them closer to God or simply make them feel religious. True devotion always transforms the heart.

Second, genuine holiness flows from a heart that listens to God.

Jesus criticizes practices that appear pious but undermine real responsibility, such as neglecting parents under the pretext of religious offerings (Mark 7:11-12).

Holiness cannot contradict love of neighbor. God’s will is always consistent with compassion.

By calling out these inconsistencies, Jesus restores the priority of God’s commandment over human custom (Mark 7:13).

Obedience rooted in love builds life, not excuses. The heart becomes the true measure of faith.

Children of God: The gospel reminds us that God desires hearts, not just habits. Traditions are meant to guide, but not replace love. Faith grows when practice and intention are aligned. 

Today, we are invited to examine our motivations. Are we faithful out of habit or out of love?