“HONEY FROM THE ROCK”
Daily Reflections
Wednesday, 8th February 2017,
Fifth Week in the Ordinary Time
Memorial of St. Bakhita, Virgin
Gen 2: 4-9, 15-17;
Ps 103: 1-2, 27-30;
Mk 7: 14-23.
INSIDE OUT!
That which comes from within is what makes a person holy! Often, we are more concerned about that which is on the outside than that which is on the inside. We often worry excessively about how we are perceived by others, how we look, or what our reputation is in the eyes of the world. Today’s Gospel specifically addresses the charge of the Pharisees that eating certain foods defiles someone. Jesus on the other hand points our attention to our hearts. What is there in our hearts? And what is it that comes forth from the heart? This is what makes us who we are.
Jesus wants to point to the purely external observances of God’s law. He addresses the tendency of the Pharisees to be excessively worried about how they are perceived by others. Their external observance of the law reveals the fact that they seem to be overly concerned about what others think about them and what others say about them. They want to look holy. But it’s all an appearance and not reality. For that reason, Jesus puts the attention on the internal. God sees what is in our hearts. Even if no one else sees this we should never forget the fact that God sees all. That which is in our hearts can either do great damage to us or do great good. There is only one thing that matters: What does God think?
Let us reflect today, upon that which is inside our heart. Why do we do what we do and why do we make the decisions we make? Are they choices that come from an honest and sincere heart? Or are they choices that are based more on how we will be perceived? Let us consider if our motives come from a heart that is deeply united to the heart of Christ.
Prayer: Lord, please make my motives pure. Help me to live only out of a pure heart. Help me to always realize that holiness is found only in serving You and not in serving my public image. I love You my Lord. Jesus, I trust in You! Amen.
Copyright ©2013-2017 ©JoyCat, Joy of the Catholic Life: see www.joy-cat.blogspot.com.
