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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?” Mark
7:17–19
We experience varying levels of intimacy in our relationships. Some
acquaintances, such as neighbors or colleagues, we only know
superficially, while with a spouse, sibling, or close friend, we
share a much deeper bond. Yet, even in the most intimate human
relationships—such as that of a longtime married couple—we never
achieve perfect knowledge of the other person.
Similarly, our relationship with Christ must continually deepen.
Unlike human relationships, however, God already knows us
perfectly—better than we know ourselves. Still, He invites us to
grow in knowledge and love of Him as He gradually reveals Himself
to us. This ongoing process will continue not only in this life but
even in eternity, as we behold the Beatific Vision. In Heaven, our
union with God will be ever-expanding, as we enter more deeply into
the infinite mystery of His divine presence.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus revealed Himself more clearly to His
closest companions than He did to the crowds. His self-revelation
came by way of an intimate teaching about the “parable” He taught
to the people. In this context, Jesus’ parable was not a
traditional parable but a short and direct statement that used
symbolic language to convey a deeper spiritual truth. He taught the
crowd: “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” (Mark 7:14–15). While seemingly
straightforward, this teaching is called a parable because it
invites contemplation and requires deeper understanding to grasp
its full spiritual significance.
In this parable, Jesus’ teaching challenged the crowd’s
preconceived notions regarding purity and holiness. By addressing
the heart as the true source of defilement, He invited His
listeners to move beyond mere external observance of the law and to
focus instead on the inner disposition of their souls. It’s also
important to understand that He taught His close disciples in a
more intimate way than He taught the crowds.
After teaching the crowds, Jesus and His disciples went “home,”
where they questioned Him about the parable. This intimate moment
teaches us that personal prayer is our own “home,” where we
encounter Christ away from the distractions of the world. It is
there that we must approach Him daily with questions—not out of
doubt, but from a desire to know Him more deeply. Questions lead to
attentive listening, understanding, and intimacy.
At the beginning of our relationship with God, He often speaks in
more general terms. For those going through an initial conversion,
Jesus’ general teachings are life-changing. As we mature in our
faith and seek to deepen our relationship with God, we must see
ourselves among Jesus’ close companions as they grew in holy
intimacy. Doing so requires daily effort and intentionality. Just
as a married couple cannot grow closer without meaningful
communication, so too must we open our hearts to God each day,
speaking honestly and listening attentively to His voice. Without
this, our relationship with Him risks remaining
superficial.
Reflect today on the ways you approach your relationship with
Christ. Do you seek Him in the quiet of your personal “home,”
asking questions and listening attentively? Consider how you can
make your prayer life more intentional, opening your heart to
deeper understanding and communion with Him. Just as a loving
spouse or a close friend takes time to speak and listen, so too
must you dedicate time daily to converse with our Lord, allowing
Him to lead you into the depths of His divine wisdom and
love.
My intimate Lord, You desire to reveal Yourself to me, to draw
me into Your presence, and to converse with me more profoundly each
day. Grant me the desire to know You, the resolve to listen
attentively, and the grace to understand the depths of Your truth.
Draw me ever closer, dear Lord, into a loving and intimate
relationship with You. Jesus, I trust in You!
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