And the Pharisees, and some of the scholars having come from Jerusalem, gathered around him.

And when they saw that some of his disciples ate food with unclean hands, that is unwashed…

—for the Pharisees and all the Jews  do not eat unless they have washed their hands in the proper way, holding fast to the tradition of the elders, for when they return from the market they do not eat unless they wash themselves, with the result that there are many things which they observe, washings of cups and pitchers and bowls, and couches—

….the Pharisees and the scholars asked him: ‘Why do your disciples not live according to the traditions of the elders, but eat food with unclean hands?’

But he said to them: ‘Isaiah prophesied rightly about you hypocrites, as it is written:

‘This people honour me with their lips, but their hearts are very far away from me.
In vain, they worship me,
teaching as ‘doctrines’ human rules.'(Isa 29:13)

Disobeying the command of God you hold to human tradition.’

And he said to them:
‘”Rightly” you reject the command of God, so that you might establish your tradition. For Moses said: “Honour your father and mother”
and “The one who speaks evil of their father or mother surely let that one be put to death.

‘But you say: “If a person says to their father or mother ‘Whatever help you would have from me it is Korban ( that is a gift)’ then you longer permit them to do anything for their father or mother, so nullifying the word of God by your tradition which you have handed down, and similar things you do such as this.’ 

Be thou a bright flame before me,
Be thou a guiding star above me
Be thou a smooth path below me
Be thou a kindly shepherd behind me
Today – tonight -forever
Amen.

St Columba