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Gospel Reading for February 12, 2025 – Mark 7: 14-23
SELFLESSNESS
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.”
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?” (Thus he declared all foods clean.) “But what comes out of the man, that is what defiles him. From within the man, from his heart, come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly. All these evils come from within and they defile.”
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During Jesus’ time, the Jews were too particular about observing 613 commandments which they claim come from the Torah or the first 5 books of the Old Testament. These were all sorts of laws and traditions that were mostly peripheral or shallow, such as food one is not allowed to eat, not washing hands before the meal, etc.. A violation of any of these is considered as an offense against God. We can just imagine how one can memorize all 613 so one does not commit an offense! It is no wonder that the scribes and Pharisees took pride in knowing and observing these religiously.
As Jesus kept explaining to the scribes and Pharisees who always had deaf ears, what matters with God is what is in the heart of a person. The greatest commandment of Love is not about not eating food which is prohibited for them, washing hands before the meal, etc., but is about giving of self to others, especially to those in need. The mark of a true Christian is SELFLESSNESS. When one is such, he/she will have no room for “evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly.”
Lord, help us understand the deeper meaning of your Commandments!
