From The Inside

The WORD today reminds me that what makes me unclean, or clean, comes from inside.

People generally want instant and visible results for their efforts. People who go to the gym often work on their upper body, since it is relatively easier to see the results on the arms and shoulders, plus it can be easily seen by other people, unlike the lower body which is almost always covered (Except when one is always wearing shorts). However, in the gospel, Jesus reminds us that sometimes, what is not seen is more important than what is seen.

There were many laws and regulations on food during the time of Jesus, so people follow a lot of things. They take in clean food to remain clean. They are careful what to eat, what to take in. However, Jesus reminded them in the gospel that what makes a person unclean is not food which goes inside a person, but things that are already in him and go out of him. Unlike food, these things are not easily seen, but they are actually more important than those readily seen.

The inner state of a person determines the outer state.

A person full of hatred, greed and evil may not be easily spotted just by looking at the appearance. The appearance may seem nice and normal, but the important things, the inner attitude and state of a person which affects the entirety of someone, are not immediately visible or obvious. In fact, other people may not see them, for evil people can do things to hide their real intentions and actions. But God sees.

God knows what are inside of us. God knows our hearts. He knows if we are full of bad things, even if other people doesn’t see them. He also sees if we are full of goodness and love. This is the reason why we should work on our inner state, on what is on our hearts, and not on other things.

What is the state of my heart right now? What things go out of me - are they goodness and love, or hate and evil intentions? What are the things I can do to make sure good things come out of me?

May we take time to check the inner state of our souls, of our beings, and do our best to improve them as well, even if people may not see the effects of it.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for another reminder of what is important in life. Thank you for reminding me how important the state of my soul is. Sorry for the times I ignore the importance of this. Sorry for focusing on the outside. Sorry for not having the will to clean my heart and my life. Help me be sensitive and to take time off to improve and clean my heart, so that what will come out of me and how I will live my life will always be pleasing to you. Amen

Blessed Day!

In Christ,

-g-

Daily Readings

February 12 2020

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Wednesday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 331

Reading 1 1 KGS 10:1-10

The queen of Sheba, having heard of Solomon’s fame,
came to test him with subtle questions.
She arrived in Jerusalem with a very numerous retinue,
and with camels bearing spices,
a large amount of gold, and precious stones.
She came to Solomon and questioned him on every subject
in which she was interested.
King Solomon explained everything she asked about,
and there remained nothing hidden from him
that he could not explain to her.

When the queen of Sheba witnessed Solomon’s great wisdom,
the palace he had built, the food at his table,
the seating of his ministers, the attendance and garb of his waiters,
his banquet service,
and the burnt offerings he offered in the temple of the LORD,
she was breathless.
“The report I heard in my country
about your deeds and your wisdom is true,” she told the king.
“Though I did not believe the report until I came and saw with my own eyes,
I have discovered that they were not telling me the half.
Your wisdom and prosperity surpass the report I heard.
Blessed are your men, blessed these servants of yours,
who stand before you always and listen to your wisdom.
Blessed be the LORD, your God,
whom it has pleased to place you on the throne of Israel.
In his enduring love for Israel,
the LORD has made you king to carry out judgment and justice.”
Then she gave the king one hundred and twenty gold talents,
a very large quantity of spices, and precious stones.
Never again did anyone bring such an abundance of spices
as the queen of Sheba gave to King Solomon.

Responsorial Psalm PS 37:5-6, 30-31, 39-40

R. (30a)  The mouth of the just murmurs wisdom.
Commit to the LORD your way;
trust in him, and he will act.
He will make justice dawn for you like the light;
bright as the noonday shall be your vindication.
R. The mouth of the just murmurs wisdom.
The mouth of the just man tells of wisdom
and his tongue utters what is right.
The law of his God is in his heart,
and his steps do not falter.
R. The mouth of the just murmurs wisdom.
The salvation of the just is from the LORD;
he is their refuge in time of distress.
And the LORD helps them and delivers them;
he delivers them from the wicked and saves them,
because they take refuge in him.
R. The mouth of the just murmurs wisdom.

Alleluia  JN 17:17B, 17A

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Your word, O Lord, is truth:
consecrate us in the truth.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel 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.”