Every human community has certain customs and traditions without which it cannot sustain itself. The customs that we follow now have gone through centuries of transformation, constantly changing according to human situations and needs. God's teachings and commandments never change. In today's Gospel Jesus confronts the Pharisees and the teachers of the law about their tradition. The Jews had been following the customs of ritual washing before every meal. This tradition had become so mechanical in practice that it did not leave any place for the commandments of God. Jesus brings this aspect to the awareness of his opponents. God's commandments are for the good of the human person, but the interpretations and practices of the Pharisees and teachers of the law had twisted the commandments to fit their selfish needs. Jesus pointed this out to them through the example of offering money to God instead of caring for parents. The Gospel thus teaches that human laws and traditions should comply with God's laws. God's commandments are mercy, love, justice and peace, as Jesus showed through his own life. We cannot compromise them to fit our self-interest.