August 29,2021
Another Sunday came my dear brothers and sisters in Christ. I hope you are all doing great this Sunday and I hope you have received the holy Eucharist today. Let's give thanks to the Almighty Father for all his graces and blessings that we always received.
For those who wasn't able to attend the mass today. I hope this writings could help your faith grow even with all the pandemic we struggles that cause us to stop going to church due to the protocols and the worries we all have if we visit public places. Fear not my dear brothers and sisters for the Lord God is always with us.
For us to strengthen our faith let's read the holy gospel and ponder what the Lord's message to us this very Sunday.
Holy Gospel,
Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23
The Pharisees and some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered round him, and they noticed that some of his disciples were eating with unclean hands, that is, without washing them. For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, keep the tradition of the elders and never eat without washing their arms as far as the elbow; and on returning from the market place they never eat without first sprinkling themselves. There are also many other observances which have been handed down to them to keep, concerning the washing of cups and pots and bronze dishes. So the Pharisees and scribes asked him, 'Why do your disciples not respect the tradition of the elders but eat their food with unclean hands?' He answered, 'How rightly Isaiah prophesied about you hypocrites in the passage of scripture: This people honours me only with lip-service, while their hearts are far from me. Their reverence of me is worthless; the lessons they teach are nothing but human commandments. You put aside the commandment of God to observe human traditions.'He called the people to him again and said, 'Listen to me, all of you, and understand. Nothing that goes into someone from outside can make that person unclean; it is the things that come out of someone that make that person unclean. For it is from within, from the heart, that evil intentions emerge: fornication, theft, murder, adultery, avarice, malice, deceit, indecency, envy, slander, pride, folly. All these evil things come from within and make a person unclean.'
Reflection
The last Sunday gospel tells us of our human nature and of how weak is our faith to God. It reminded us that when the things cannot be explained through reasons and that we can't understand the worldly things and emotions anymore, we must have faith. Faith to God the father in heaven because not all happenings in this world can be explain by our knowledge and understanding alone. It is design by God so that we could realize that we need him in our life.
While today's gospel tells us the same human nature which is reflected through our traditions and beliefs. Jesus was asked by one of the people around who have witnessed that his disciples are eating without washing there hands. Since washing of the hands before eating is one of the traditions of Pharisees and Jews that was handed by the elders to them that they obeys. Therefore it reflects the cleanliness that becomes the traditions of the people. Cleanliness is a huge thing for them. But then Jesus answered to them that
not the things that comes in the body that makes us unclean but the things that comes out from us.
What are those things?
ALL THE EVIL THINGS
When that evil intentions emerge: fornication, theft, murder, adultery, avarice, malice, deceit, indecency, envy, slander, pride, folly.
WHAT MAKES US UNCLEAN
The evil words we say to other people
The evil and painful words that we say to other people is one that makes us unclean. Words telling them that they are ugly, useless, crazy, dumb, a total piece of sh*t, crap and many more. Simply all the words that could hurt them and even destroy their confidence and their whole being in general. The ungratefulness of the way we say. The gossips that we tell to other people to destroy someones image. Anything that comes out from our mouth that could destroy someone's life as a whole makes us unclean.
The evil things we do to other people
The evil things such as robbery, thief, fornication, murder, cheating, adultery, abuse, rape, and many more. All the evil actions that impacted someone's life in a very negative way. That can makes us unclean. So let's makes sure that we only do good things only to other people.
The evil thought we have for other people
Even though we don't say something or tell something we could also create a sin through our mind. Mind is the very powerful aspects of human being for it plays a huge role to us a whole. If we cultivate evil thoughts it reflects in our words and actions. It could lead us to say bad words and do evil things to other people. So be careful what you are thinking because it makes you unclean too.
The evil disposition of our heart towards other people
Lastly is the disposition of our hearts. If we have anger, jealousy, hatred and so much more evil things inside our heart it will surely reflects in our words and actions as well. The anger inside could lead into hurtful words, much more is hatred. Jealousy could lead into evil actions that could hurt othe people that could make us unclean as well. So let's makes our heart clean through throwing all the evil disposition it feelings up inside.
But how about if I won't say or do something so that it won't make me unclean?
Oh! You mean, you wouldn't care at all?
I believe you can't do that because not caring is a grave sin. And sin also makes you unclean.
If you remember every time we attend the holy mass we confess saying, I confess to the Almighty Father and to you my dear brothers and sisters that I have gravely sin through my thoughts, through my words, to the things that I done and what I have failed to do.
Therefore, if you think you are clean in that way then you have failed.
Closing thought
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ the gospel today teaches us that we must not just focus on the cleanliness that our physical body could benifit but gives important more unto the spiritual things that we must cultivate. If you make sure your house is clean so as your spirit and soul. Make sure that you say, do, think, and feel good towards your self and other people because this is the cleanliness that matter most. Because the things that comes in us don't makes us unclean but the things that comes out from us. Therefore guard your words, your actions, your minds, and your heart. Let the goodness and the words of God dwell on your heart and be live out in you life.
Thank you so much for reading. God bless us all. 🙏😇
To my generous and lovely sponsors and friends thank you so much. I am bless to have you all. As always, I love you 🥰😘
True enough. Sometimes what comes out our mouth are evil. Lies and hatful words. Therefore, we must guard our tongue.