WEDNESDAY IN THE FIFTH WEEK OF ORDINARY TIME, YEAR II.
Mystery of the day: Glorious
Table of the Word: 1 Kings 10:1-10; Psalm 37:5-6.30-31.39-40 (R. 30a); Mark 7:14-23
Celebration for the day: Ferial
The WORD: "What comes out of a man is what defiles a man. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, fornication, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a man." (see Mark 7:14-23)
Theme: ... purify your intention
Inspiration:
Every action begins from within - the mind. That is to say we cannot talk of action without making reference to thought. It is against this backdrop that Evangelist Mark in today's gospel pericope gives account of our Lord's teaching on defilement saying:
"What comes out of a man is what defiles a man. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, fornication, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a man." (see Mark 7:14-23)
The teaching here has nothing to do with what we take in rather it revolves around what we conceive in our minds. Most often our outward shows contradict our thoughtful thinking, we make our hearts incubating ground for all the vices mentioned today and many other ones.
In today's first reading we have heard the testimony of Queen of Sheba in the course of her visit to King Solomon as she said:
"The report was true which I heard in my own land of your affairs and of your wisdom, but I did not believe the reports until I came and my own eyes had seen it; and, behold, the half was not told me; your wisdom and prosperity surpass the report which I heard." (see 1 Kings 10:1-10) How true are what they heard about us?
Obviously, this interesting picture invites us to a life where our thoughts, words and actions are in tandem with each other. In this narrative we have seen that what Queen of Sheba heard about King Solomon was not built on packaging or lies. Thus, we are to live out what we represent. Let our outward shows corresponds with our thoughts; for it is in doing this, that what will come out of us will not defile us.
Finally, we are obliged to make use of our senses to purify every defilement. Let our eyes sees the brighter part of others and not that little dark spot; let our tongue proclaim praises of God in others; may our mouths utter only what will encourage one another and our minds be engaged in thinking what good can we do to salvage the situation of one another. Peace! Be with you!
Let us pray
O God, Amighty we are grateful for the many favours we receive from You. Never forsake us as we call by Your Name, grant us the grace to match our thoughts with our words and actions. Let us be the gospel others can easily read for the greater glory of Your Name. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
© The ARCHIVE 07022024
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