“The things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, ....” (Mt 15:18)

“The things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these are things that make a person ritually clean.” (Mt 15:18)

Meditation:      Jesus is always very clear and simple in his teachings. Whether it is about religious tradition, law, or social issues, Jesus has the answer in its simplest way and form. It is because of this, people usually wanted to hear an answer from him, rather from their teachers. Today’s reading is about religious tradition and law. See, how clear he is in his answer! Whatever you take into your mouth is for your body. Whereas whatever you take into your five senses are for your mind and heart. That makes you a real human person. In food taking also you have to be cautious because it affects your health, but Jesus is speaking about the ritual cleanliness and purity. It is not the body that makes you really authentic, but your heart. Jesus says, “It is the spirit that gives life, the flesh is of no use.” (Jn 6:63) Therefore, be careful in feeding your mind and heart. The word of God instructs us today as to the watchfulness we should have in our watching, seeing, speaking, hearing, imagining etc. Jesus says, “A good person brings good things out of his treasure of good things; a bad person brings bad things out of his treasure of bad things. How do you make treasures of good and bad things? It is through your five senses. The Jewish people made enough rules to keep themselves pure and clean without any respect to its spirit. Jesus was against all these human traditions.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, we thank you and praise you for your guidance today. Many a time we were not vigilant and watchful enough in our use of our five senses that are the mouths through which our mind and heart is fed. What we had watched, seen, heard and imagined without any care, are really haunting us. As St. Paul says, “If I do what I don’t want to do, this means that I am no longer the one who does it; instead, it is the sin that lives in me.” Gives us your Holy Spirit in its abundance that we may discern what is good and evil, and receive and follow good ways. Amen!  

  

Greetings:        Take courage God is with you! Have a nice and blissful day….