WEDNESDAY OF THE FIFTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME FEBRUARY 9, 2022

MASS READINGS

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mk 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

"All these evils come from within and they defile.”

"But this is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days--oracle of the Lord I will place my law within them and write it upon their hearts, I will be their God and they shall be my people."......."for I will forgive their inequity and no longer remember their sin". (Jeremiah 31:33-34)

God knew us before we were formed. He planted His law in our hearts at creation.

But we have within our hearts--evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance and folly.

Subconsciously we know what is right from wrong, but sometimes we need to tame our hearts, wake up and see our defects as what they are. Sometimes, a preacher, teacher or parent awaken that deep subconsciousness.

Let us become now what we would like to be at the hour of our death. St Ignatius of Loyola once said, " There are very few people who realize what God would make of them if they abandoned themselves into His hands, and let themselves be formed by His grace".

Let us trust ourselves totally to God, the miracle maker, the restorer of life, the Redeemer of our souls; He has eternal merciful love for us.

Thanking God for all He has done for us.

God bless you.

*The Imitation of Christ, Book 1, Meditations on Death

*Things Hidden, Scripture as Spirituality, Father Richard Rohr, Kindle

* St Ignatius Quotes