Genesis 2:4b-9. 15- 17,
Psalm 104:1 -2a.27-28.29bc-30,
Mark 7: 14-23 Full Readings
Saint ScholasticaExamining Our Inner Self
Brethren, in the first reading we see the second creation account. It tells us less about the early process of the generation of the world; we arrive to find everything ready – only no life, no water, so no growth. Then a stream appears, and the LORD God sets to work as a potter, molding the man from the dust.
In the previous account no material had been used for the creation of Adam (or of anything else), but here the LORD God uses dust or crumbly earth, and the likeness to God is expressed by the breath of God breathed directly into the nostrils of the man. The man actually receives the life of God. The same word means breath, wind or spirit, and one may even wonder whether a capital letter should be used, the Spirit of God. In the previous account the Spirit was there already, hovering over the waters, but in this case it is the spirit of God that gives life to the man.
The man is placed in the Garden of Delights, for this is what ‘Eden’ means; but what are these two trees? Or is it one tree, the tree of life and also the tree of the knowledge of good and evil? In any case, the man may not tamper with it/them. It is an ominous warning that the man is not free to make any decision he likes. There are standards, there is responsibility. Perhaps it might be called the Tree of Conscience. The man cannot create his own life. Finally, he may not take his own life; this is a unique gift of God, given in trust, the symbol and guarantee of dependence on God. Thus the two trees show that man is not free to do anything he desires but in accordance to God's will.
Today's invitation is to examine our conscience and inner self to see if it conforms with the will of God. As the gospel tells us today, our inner self is the source of bad and evil acts like fornication, adultery, greed, jealousy, envy and others. Examining our inner self will enable us to establish good relationships with God and neighbors.
In a very cosmetic age like ours, when external beauty and appearance is overly admired and celebrated, Jesus reminds us that it is what we carry within that is of greater importance. Purity before God does not consist of washing hands but in having a clean heart – a heart emptied of evil. Thus, we must pay greater attention to the state of our inner being. The list Jesus offers spanning from grave vices such as fornication, theft and murder to indecency, pride and folly not only provides a good tool for examination of conscience but reminds us that the seemingly small sins are capable of serious consequences when left unattended. Look within, take nothing for granted!
The Jewish people had many rules about almost all aspects of life, including food. Certain foods were clean, others unclean. Foods also needed to be prepared and eaten in a certain way. Such an ordinary part of life was raised to the level of religious practice and became a matter of individual righteousness. Jesus wanted to restore the image of God’s goodness and providence. From the moment of creation, God gave us everything to enjoy as a gift and to care for as its stewards. Jesus wants us to enjoy all that God has provided for us, down to the food we eat, so that we can be nourished and not scrupulous. How easy it is to sometimes put certain things into categories of “good” or “bad” based on subjective opinions. This Gospel is an invitation to see all of creation with God’s eyes and to use his gifts wisely.
It is the heart that matters. Clearly, the point of the passage is not what should be eaten for dinner. Rather, it is about something much deeper and very precious to Jesus: the human heart. Jesus came to establish his kingdom, not with armies or castles, but through grace and conversion of the human heart. He sees the evil we sometimes do–unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly–and he passionately desires to enter and possess each person’s heart, so that he can transform it into a vessel of his love and light. Yet, he cannot enter without our consent. He stands outside our inner door and knocks softly, waiting for us to open the door and allow him in.
Let us Pray:
Jesus, I want to sit at your feet and allow you to teach me today about what is most important to you. You are interested in entering my heart— purifying it and transforming it for your glory. Jesus, please enter my heart now. Show me what is really there and make it like yours in all things. Amen
Be blessed
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