What Defiles Us?

Today’s Gospel: And he called the people to him again, and said to them, "Hear me, all of you, and understand: 15 there is nothing outside a man which by going into him can defile him; but the things which come out of a man are what defile him." 17 And when he had entered the house, and left the people, his disciples asked him about the parable. 18 And he said to them, "Then are you also without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into a man from outside cannot defile him, 19 since it enters, not his heart but his stomach, and so passes on?" (Thus he declared all foods clean.) 20 And he said, "What comes out of a man is what defiles a man. 21 For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, fornication, theft, murder, adultery, 22 coveting, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. 23 All these evil things come from within, and they defile a man." Mark 7:14-23

Reflection:  Carrying on further with yesterday’s reflection, this statement of Jesus is bold and for the worldly wise it could be scientifically untenable.  While any scientific findings and logic will say that we should be careful in what we eat and how we eat lest we ingest germs and bacteria’s and viruses. (Yes, we have to be careful; for Biblical reason refer to yesterday’s reflection) 

And here Jesus is making a bold statement: "Hear me, all of you, and understand:  there is nothing outside a man which by going into him can defile him; but the things which come out of a man are what defile him."  Can such a bold statement stand the scrutiny of modern day scientists and scholars? We leave that to the worldly wise.

As for me, the many years of working in God’s vineyard and the many testimonies of holy men and women down the century is an example of the inner wisdom in God’s word.

Besides the argument put forward yesterday, we could also look at things empirically; two people have contaminated food and one falls sick the other does not.  You have some who are allergic to certain food stuff and many who are not. 

Yet this is not an exercise in blame game, as if to say that the individual is the culprit in all this.  But there is a definite solution for the individual in the saving face of Jesus Christ.  

Jesus either heals or helps us with his consolation and strength to endure the pangs of suffering and lead us in the hope of eternity: where “He will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself will be with them; he will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain any more, for the former things have passed away." Rev 21:3-4

Prayer:  “For the Lord God is a sun and shield; he bestows favor and honor. No good thing does the Lord withhold from those who walk uprightly. O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man who trusts in thee! Ps 84:11-12

DD = Dedicated Discipleship:  Come grow in the Lord with us