8 February, 2023 Wednesday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time
Gospel: Mark 7:14-23
Jesus summoned the crowd again and said to them,
“Hear me, all of you, and understand.
Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person;
but the things that come out from within are what defile.”
When he got home away from the crowd
his disciples questioned him about the parable.
He said to them,
“Are even you likewise without understanding?
Do you not realize that everything
that goes into a person from outside cannot defile,
since it enters not the heart but the stomach
and passes out into the latrine?”
(Thus he declared all foods clean.)
“But what comes out of the man, that is what defiles him.
From within the man, from his heart,
come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder,
adultery, greed, malice, deceit,
licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly.
All these evils come from within and they defile.”
Reflection:
Our Christian faith is based on a love-relationship with God. From this love our actions and our rituals flow. From this love flows our non-judgemental attitude towards others. Pope Francis reiterates this: Keep your gaze fixed on Jesus Christ and learn from him how to love with a truly human heart, to care for the lost and hurting members of his flock, to work for justice and show solidarity with the weak and the poor.’ Jesus warns us against performing actions for the sake of keeping up appearances. We know the difference between clean and sticky fingers. We can make things difficult for others, humiliate them, reduce them to tears. On the contrary, what always counts is the inner motivation: often not the external ‘good act’ – but the reason that prompts us to do it.
Activity:
The Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands properly, holding to the tradition of the elders. Today, think of your words and actions and pray that what comes out of you may bring goodness to others.
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