Readings
I - 1Kings 10: 1-10
II - Mk. 7: 14-23
STAY PURE IN MIND AND HEART
The Jews considered that what comes from outside makes a person unclean. This is why they had ‘n’ number of purifying rituals and rites. They alienated and avoided persons, places and objects under the pretext of keeping themselves clean so as to remain ‘holy’ before the Lord. Jesus in today’s Gospel passage purifies their attitude and revives the Law of the Lord by insisting on the importance of being pure in heart and mind. What enters from outside into the person gets also outside harming none. “For from within, out of the heart of man, come evils thoughts” that harms the individual and the people with whom he associates. Therefore all that comes from within defiles and not that what comes from outside of the person.
There are also still people who hold on to rites and rituals under perception that these would set them apart and pure and this is not purity at all. What the Lord wants and desires is the purity of mind and heart from which flows pure thoughts, words and deeds that build up and foster good vibes towards positivity, prosperity and purity. Let our mind and heart resonate with the prayer: “Lord God, create in me a pure and clean heart”.
