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.” Mark 7:14–15
What is within you? What is in your heart? Today’s Gospel concludes
with a list of vices that sadly come from within: “evil thoughts,
unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit,
licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly.” Of course, none
of these vices are desirable when looked at objectively. They are
all quite repulsive. And yet too often they are sins that people
deal with on a regular basis to one extent or another.
Take greed, for example. When understood clearly, no one wants to
be known as one who is greedy. It’s a shameful attribute to have.
But when greed is not looked at as greed, it’s easy to fall into
the trap of living it. One who is greedy desires an excessive
amount of this or that. More money, a better house, a nicer car,
more luxurious vacations, etc. Thus, when a person is acting in a
greedy way, greed does not seem undesirable. It’s only when greed
is looked at in an objective way that it is understood for what it
is.
In this Gospel, by naming this long list of vices, Jesus does us an
incredible act of mercy. He rattles us and calls us to step back
and look at sin for what it is. Jesus also makes it clear that when
you live one or more of these vices, you become defiled. You become
greedy, a liar, cruel, a gossip, hateful, arrogant, etc.
Objectively speaking, no one wants this.
What is it in that list of vices that you struggle with the most?
What do you see within your own heart? Be honest with yourself
before God. Jesus desires that your heart be pure and holy, freed
from these and every filth. But unless you are able to look at your
own heart with honesty, it will be difficult to reject the sin with
which you struggle.
Reflect, today, upon this list of sins identified by our Lord.
Consider each one and allow yourself to see each sin for what it
truly is. Allow yourself to despise these sins with a holy wrath
and then turn your eyes to that sin with which you struggle the
most. Know that as you consciously see that sin and reject it, our
Lord will begin to strengthen you and purify your heart so that you
become freed from that defilement and become, instead, the
beautiful child of God you were made to be.
My merciful Lord, help me to see sin for what it is. Help me,
especially, to see my own sin—that sin within my own heart that
defiles me as Your dear child. As I see my sin, give me the grace I
need to reject it and to turn to You with all my heart so that I
can become a new creation in Your grace and mercy. Jesus, I trust
in You!
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