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Wednesday, August 29, 2018

1Reflection for Sunday September 2, Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time: Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23


Gospel: Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23
When the Pharisees with some scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus they observed that some of his disciples ate their meals with unclean, that is, unwashed, hands. —For the Pharisees and, in fact, all Jews do not eat without carefully washing their hands, keeping the tradition of the elders. And on coming from the marketplace they do not eat without purifying themselves. And there are many other things that they have traditionally observed, the purification of cups and jugs and kettles and beds. So the Pharisees and scribes questioned him, “Why do your disciples not follow the tradition of the elders but instead eat a meal with unclean hands?” He responded, “Well did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites, as it is written: This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines human precepts. You disregard God’s commandment but cling to human tradition.”

He 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.

“From within people, from their hearts, 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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Reflection:
A middle-aged wife would always be seen by her husband every morning carefully fixing herself most especially her make up before going to work. There was one morning that the husband inquired: “Honey, why are you very particular with your physical appearance.” The wife retorted, “I need to look good so that I would always look fresh and young.”

In the gospel, the Pharisees questioned Jesus regarding His followers who were not observing the external tradition. However, Jesus would have none of it because for Jesus external observance is simply a facade. What is important for Jesus is what is in our hearts.

Many of us are like this middle-aged woman very particular with our external appearance and the external impression that we would convey. However, what is the use of external impression if we don’t follow the commands of the Lord? What is the use of a pretty/handsome appearance if we are spewing expletives and scorn?

Physical appearance is useless for its passing and temporary what is important is what is inside us. Like the goodness and pureness of our hearts which we translate to actual acts of love, mercy and compassion. What is important is we do good without seeking recognition, honor and adulation.  

What is important is we follow the commands of the Lord and not follow the temptation and command of the devil. The commands of the devil which are always disguised as attractive and tempting yet it leads us to emptiness, nothingness and brokenness at the end. – Marino J. Dasmarinas   

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