Living
Cleanse Thy Heart And Mind
Wednesday of week 5 in Ordinary Time
Genesis 2:4-9,15-17
Psalm 103(104):1-2,27-30
Mark 7:14-23
During Jesus’ era, Jewish customs differentiated between clean and unclean foods, and a failure to perform proper handwashing rituals before consuming food was believed to render an individual’s actions impure, effectively contaminating their soul.
In today’s gospel passage, we observe a confrontation between Jesus and a group of scribes and Pharisees who traveled from Jerusalem. They challenge Him regarding the adherence of His disciples to traditional handwashing protocols before meals—protocols that, while specific and integral to ritual purity, are not codified in the Torah itself but are rather extra-biblical traditions.
Jesus refutes this notion, stating that moral corruption originates in the heart, not from external actions or dietary choices. The critical question He poses is, “Where is your heart?” It serves as a cautionary reminder of the inherent dangers associated with one’s vocation and daily existence.
Jesus articulates a fundamental principle: it is not the act of handwashing or the consumption of food that renders a person impure; rather, it is the condition of the heart, mind, and soul, reflected in one’s words and actions. The idea that sustenance can corrupt the soul is a human construct, lacking divine origin (Mark 7:2-5). Instead, internal evils such as wickedness, immorality, theft, murder, deceit, and adultery are manifestations of the heart’s depravity. Thus, the genesis of malevolent actions can be traced back to internal conditions—the heart of the problem lies within.
THE TEMPTATIONS FROM WITHIN
Even in the most unassuming professions, such as log splitting, individuals are susceptible to temptation. This vulnerability persists regardless of one’s occupation—be it teaching, domestic work, agriculture, mechanical trades, civil service, or entrepreneurship—where external risks of serious vice may be minimized, yet subtler sins may infiltrate one’s life. This holds true even for those living in seclusion, who may mistakenly believe they are immune to such temptations.
The heart can harbor pride, avarice, and immorality even among the modest and reserved. Emotions like anger, envy, and malice can penetrate even the most tranquil of environments. Sin can arise through seemingly innocuous interactions—a passing remark to a domestic worker, a trivial purchase, or mere observation of the outside world can serve as gateways to temptation.
This state of vulnerability raises a critical question: how do we secure ourselves against such internal threats? The pursuit of self-preservation in a world rife with evil is a burdensome endeavor; it is ultimately divine intervention that offers safeguarding.
Our Christian hope, therefore, rests on a faith-based relationship with God, predicated on His assurances to fulfill promises made. From this foundational relationship, our actions and rituals arise, fostering a non-judgmental perspective toward others. It is in this dynamic that true happiness, originating in God, transcends into our interactions with others.
And so we pray “Spread thy wings over us, and we, like little chickens, will cower down beneath thee, and feel ourselves safe!”Ecclesiastes 10:9,
Fr Joseph Osho
