Daily Word Of God
Mark 7:14-23
Jesus called the people to him again and said, ‘Listen to me, all of you, and understand. Nothing that goes into a man from outside can make him unclean; it is the things that come out a man that make him unclean. If anyone as ears to hear, let him listen to this.’
When he had gone back into the house, away from the crowd, his disciples questioned him about the parable. He said to them, ‘Do you not understand either? Can you not see that whatever goes into a man from outside cannot make him unclean, because it goes not into the heart but through the stomach and passes into the sewer?
And he went on, ‘It is what comes out of a man that makes him unclean. For it is from within, from men’s heart, that evil intentions emerge: fornication, theft, murder, adultery, avarice, malice, deceit, indecency, envy, slander, pride, folly. All these evil things come from within and make a man unclean.’
Today's Pointers on God's Word
As you read the passage what words, phases or meanings caught your attention?
- Jesus reminds us to be more aware of the evil thoughts and sinful desires of our hearts e.g. deceit, lust, envy etc. These will distance us from God.
- If we seek God’s forgiveness, He will always forgive us and give us the graces we need to overcome our evil inclinations and live more fully in His ways.
- Recall some moments in your life when the graces of God’s Mercy helped you to overcome the evil inclinations in your heart. Describe these moments of spiritual consolations in your Spiritual Diary.