DAILY- HOMILY

February 13, 2019 – WEDNESDAY, 5TH Week in Ordinary Time

Green.

Gn 2:4b-9, 15-17 / Mk 7:14-23

From the 1st Reading: Gn 2:15-17

Yahweh God took Man and placed him in the garden of Eden to till it and take care of it. Then Yahweh God gave an order to Man saying, "You may eat of every tree in the garden, but of the tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, you will not eat, for on the day you eat of it, you will die."

Gospel Reading:               Mk 7: 14 – 23

Jesus then called the people to him again and said to them, "Listen to me, all of you, and try to understand. Nothing that enters one from outside can make that person unclean. It is what comes out from within that makes unclean. Let everyone who has ears listen."

When Jesus got home and was away from the crowd, his disciples asked him about this saying, and he replied, ""So even you are dull? Do you not see that whatever comes from outside cannot make a person unclean? Since it enters not the heart but the stomach and is finally passed out" Thus, Jesus declared that all foods are clean.

And he went on, "What comes out of a person is what defiles, for evil designs come out of the heart: theft, murder, adultery, jealousy, greed, maliciousness, deceit, indecency, slander, pride and folly. All these evil things come from within and make a person unclean.."

REFLECTION

In the first reading, we are reminded that man does not really decide what is right and what is wrong. Man is bound by God's commands and by moral limitations.

Guard your hearts and minds. At a time of many Jewish laws and traditions, most of them related to preparing and eating, Jesus simplified things by declaring that all foods were clean. Jesus stressed that uncleanness came from our minds and hearts and not from what we ate.

Even today, preparing for a prayer meeting or assembly, at times we may be more concerned about the food and refreshments.

Jesus warns us that evil designs come from our hearts and minds, not from what we eat. What do we do when we are tempted with an evil thought or judgment about another?  What do we do when we deal with people we  do not really like?  Are we ready to think positively of others?  Are we ready to be careful in making judgments on others and on what they do and make sure we have adequate knowledge?

FINALLY, WE PRAY FOR ONE ANOTHER, FOR THOSE WHO HAVE ASKED OUR PRAYERS AND FOR THOSE WHO NEED OUR PRAYERS THE MOST. 

Have a good day!

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   |  The Daily Prayer, a service and an apostolate of the

   |  priests, laity and friends of Mary the Queen Parish

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