A HEART THAT IS UNITED TO GOD – 02/08/22 (Tuesday)

Mark 7:6,10-12

6 And He said to them, "Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, `This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me;

10 For Moses said, `Honor your father and your mother'; and, `He who speaks evil of father or mother, let him surely die'; 11 but you say, `If a man tells his father or his mother, What you would have gained from me is Corban' (that is, given to God) -- 12 then you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or mother,

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Blessed Tuesday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time! The Pharisees criticized Jesus and His disciples once again because they did not wash their hands before eating a meal. This is contrary to the tradition of elders, the unwritten rules made by people which the Pharisees and scribes considered to have the same binding force as the law of God. However, Jesus responded to them as hypocrites because their hearts were really far from God, even if they spoke of following His commandments. Our Lord mentioned a specific case of their inconsistency when God commanded to honor our parents. But, the Pharisees had a tradition that it's okay not to provide for parents if they offered what they had to God. In reality, it was not what God wanted, but it was for their own interests, and they just used the offering as an excuse.

Unfortunately, even today, there are people who believe in some unwritten rules and principles which only seek the interest of oneself and which use God as a justification for these actions. For example, others may think that God desires us to be happy, and that the material goods they receive are blessings from God. As such, they seek to increase their riches without spending some of these to the poor and needy. The truth is Jesus gives us more material blessings because He is inviting us to share more to the poor and the needy around us. It's also possible that one person thinks of how God improves his life. And yet, there can be the temptation of belittling other people who are still struggling with their problems. A person who follows God's will has a heart that is united to God. This heart is filled with God's love, and because it's overflowing, this love is shared with our neighbors. A pure heart that serves the poor is a heart that serves Christ who is present in their lives. 

We can address the financial needs of our neighbors through almsgiving done with love. At the same time, even if other people do not have the finance to help, our prayers are not in vain because God listens to His servants. True happiness is found solely in following God's will. We can experience it by loving our God and our neighbor. The worldly satisfactions from riches, achievements, and honor are empty, and they can keep us far from God. Our Savior wants our hearts to have the desire of entering heaven. This can happen only if we allow God to move us and make us instruments of His Divine Goodness. Our Lord will free us from the desires that belong to darkness, and He will enlighten our hearts with His love and mercy. 

Amen +

 

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, be with us always until the hour of our death. Amen. +

 

May the Lord + bless us, protect us from all evil and bring us to everlasting life. Amen. +  

Reflection by: Dominic