Qua bài Tin Mừng, Người Pharisêu và những người Do thái đã chất vấn Chúa Giêsu rất nhiều điều, nhưng với ý tưởng xấu xa của họ, Họ không phải hỏi Chúa Giêsu để tìm hiều hay học hỏi thêm về Chân Lý và sự thật, nhưng mục đích của họ muốn nêu lên những câu hỏi là muốn gài bẫy Chúa Giêsu và để họ có dịp triệt hạ Ngài.. Những người Do thái bình thường thì họ đánh giá cao sự khôn ngoan và sự tốt lành của Chúa Giêsu, trong khi đó, các nhà lãnh đạo tôn giào của họ đã khóa kín cửa lòng của họ, để đánh mất cái khôn ngoan mà không biết sự khiêm tốn và nhân nhượng vì thế họ không thể nhận ra rằng Chúa Giêsu, người đứng trước mặt họ là người có sự khôn ngoan còn to lớn hơn của vua Solomon.
Các môn đệ của Giêsu thông thường cũng không thể hiểu được những lời Giáo Huấn của Chúa, nhưng ít ra họ đã có cố gắng tìm tòi và học hỏi them ở nơi Chúa Giêsu. Quan trọng hơn, là họ còn nhớ được những giáo huấn mà Chúa đã truyền dạy cho họ, vì họ hiểu được rằng, sau khi Chúa Giêsu sống lại và lên trời, họ phải có khả năng nhớ lại những điểm quan trọng nhất của giáo lý của Ngài.
Wednesday 5th Week in Ordinary Time
The Pharisees and others questioned Jesus but, with a few exceptions, their intention was not to seek the truth but only to trap him. Ordinary people often appreciated the wisdom and the goodness of Jesus while their leaders were locked in their intransigence and could not realize that Jesus stood before them with wisdom greater than that of Solomon. Jesus’ own disciples were frequently unable to understand him, but at least they sought further clarification. More importantly, they remembered better than they understood so that, after Jesus’ Ascension into heaven, they were able to recall the most significant points of his teaching.
As the Church spread all over the earth, She was able, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, to rely on that teaching to deal with the many questions which arose throughout the ages to challenge our faith and our way of living. Blessed are we indeed, who enjoy the gift of faith, the truth given to us by Jesus which sets us free. Lord Jesus, we thank You for the gift of our faith and ask that we may always be attentive to the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit, who guides us to remember Your teaching with understanding.
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.” Mark 7:14–15
What is within you? What is in your heart? Today’s Gospel concludes with a list of vices that sadly come from within: “evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly.” Of course, none of these vices are desirable when looked at objectively. They are all quite repulsive. And yet too often they are sins that people deal with on a regular basis to one extent or another.
Take greed, for example. When understood clearly, no one wants to be known as one who is greedy. It’s a shameful attribute to have. But when greed is not looked at as greed, it’s easy to fall into the trap of living it. One who is greedy desires an excessive amount of this or that. More money, a better house, a nicer car, more luxurious vacations, etc. Thus, when a person is acting in a greedy way, greed does not seem undesirable. It’s only when greed is looked at in an objective way that it is understood for what it is.
In this Gospel, by naming this long list of vices, Jesus does us an incredible act of mercy. He rattles us and calls us to step back and look at sin for what it is. Jesus also makes it clear that when you live one or more of these vices, you become defiled. You become greedy, a liar, cruel, a gossip, hateful, arrogant, etc. Objectively speaking, no one wants this.
What is it in that list of vices that you struggle with the most? What do you see within your own heart? Be honest with yourself before God. Jesus desires that your heart be pure and holy, freed from these and every filth. But unless you are able to look at your own heart with honesty, it will be difficult to reject the sin with which you struggle.
Reflect, today, upon this list of sins identified by our Lord. Consider each one and allow yourself to see each sin for what it truly is. Allow yourself to despise these sins with a holy wrath and then turn your eyes to that sin with which you struggle the most. Know that as you consciously see that sin and reject it, our Lord will begin to strengthen you and purify your heart so that you become freed from that defilement and become, instead, the beautiful child of God you were made to be.
My merciful Lord, help me to see sin for what it is. Help me, especially, to see my own sin—that sin within my own heart that defiles me as Your dear child. As I see my sin, give me the grace I need to reject it and to turn to You with all my heart so that I can become a new creation in Your grace and mercy. Jesus, I trust in You!
Opening Prayer: Lord God, you are the source of all wisdom. Only in you can I truly be wise and judge the things of this world properly. Grant me the gift of your wisdom. Give me a docile heart attentive to the promptings of your Holy Spirit.
1. King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba: As we read the First Book of Kings, things seem to be going well for Solomon. His reign has been very successful. He built the Temple and now neighboring people, like the Queen of Sheba, are flocking to him to see what he has accomplished and to hear his wisdom. The First Reading tells us that Solomon could explain everything to her and that the queen was somewhat overwhelmed by it all. At the end of their meeting, she praises the God of Israel and prays that Solomon may continue his reign in justice and righteousness.
2. The Wisdom of Solomon: There are four books in the Old Testament that try to encapsulate the wisdom of Solomon. The first is the Book of Proverbs. It offers general moral instruction on how to live and often contrasts the way of the foolish with the way of the wise. The way of the foolish and prideful leads to wickedness and death, while the way of the wise and humble leads to righteousness and life. The second book, the Book of Ecclesiastes, is the most philosophical. It contemplates the difficult question of the meaning of life, especially if death is our ultimate destiny. It makes us reflect on questions like: What is the point of being good if everything comes to an end in the grave? Why do the unjust seem to flourish in this life while the righteous and just suffer and endure persecution? The third book, the Song of Solomon, is a parable about the love that unites a royal bridegroom and his bride. It is an image of the love God has for us, his bride. The fourth book, the Wisdom of Solomon, answers the questions of Ecclesiastes and holds that the unrighteous will be punished but the righteous will enjoy life with God after death (Wisdom 3:1-9).
3. The New Law of Jesus: After his discussion with the scribes and Pharisees about human traditions and after judging them guilty of hypocrisy, Jesus now teaches the crowd the same lesson through a parable that he will later explain to his disciples. He teaches that the food we eat cannot defile us or make us unclean. This teaching of Jesus alters a large part of the Law of Moses, which prohibited eating many things like shellfish and pork. The food prohibitions of the Old Law of Moses were given for many reasons. They were given for health reasons, to separate Israel from the influence of pagan nations, and as a penance. They also symbolized the need to separate oneself from what is impure and unclean. In declaring all foods clean, Jesus brings the Old Law to fulfillment. In the New Covenant, the protective separation of Israel from the other nations was removed. As well, we are taught by Jesus that uncleanness comes from within, from the depths of our hearts, and is manifested in our sinful words and actions. Just as Israel, according to the Old Law of Moses, separated itself from certain foods, we are called, according to the New Law of Jesus, to separate ourselves from evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, and folly.
Conversing with Christ: Lord Jesus, thank you for bringing the Old Law to fulfillment and declaring all foods clean! Help me to judge the things of this world rightly. Help me to see things through your eyes and with a heart like yours.
Resolution: We can separate ourselves from sin, not through our strength alone, but through our cooperation with divine grace. We need to take a deep look at our hearts in prayer. This is our place of encounter with God. What do we find there? The thirteen evils mentioned by Jesus today? Or the twelve fruits of the Spirit – charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness, modesty, self-control, and chastity? (CCC, 1832).
Opening Prayer: Lord, I believe that your heart is open and ready to receive me this morning. I want to please you. Help me to listen closely to your words as I pray.
1. Hear and Understand: After his admonition of the Pharisees (yesterday’s reading) Jesus turned and implored the crowd gathered there to “hear and understand” his teaching. We might imagine some urgency in his manner, reflecting his heart’s desire that the crowd not be misled by their rulers. He was saying it's not what we eat, but how we speak and behave that has the power to either glorify the Father or defile us. May we take his words as seriously as his listeners and disciples did, and reflect and repent, if necessary, on any sins of the tongue or defiling behaviors.
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