Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Mark 7, 14-23

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.” 

When he got home away from the crowd
his disciples questioned him about the parable.
He said to them,
“Are even you likewise without understanding?
Do you not realize that everything
that goes into a person from outside cannot defile,
since it enters not the heart but the stomach
and passes out into the latrine?”
(Thus he declared all foods clean.)
“But what comes out of the man, that is what defiles him.
From within the man, from his heart,
come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder,
adultery, greed, malice, deceit,
licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly.
All these evils come from within and they defile.”

What comes out from within

1. Summoned the crowd. Jesus made it clear that His mission wasn’t just about performing miracles or healing the sick; rather, He came to deliver a profound message: faith in God should never be overshadowed by religious practices or external appearances. The external is not the most important aspect of a person, nor is it the main thing God takes into account. What matters most to God is the person’s heart. In Jesus’s time, Jewish traditions and laws were often considered most important, sometimes neglecting the person and their inner self. We should avoid being rigid Christians who simply check off daily devotions. Instead, we’re called to truly see one another, treating others with genuine care and compassion. We are Christians, that is to say, other Christs.

2. Pure and impure. Sometimes, we might think we’re better or purer simply because we belong to a specific group or community, or because we follow certain rules. I once explained to a parish group member that someone new had taken on a leadership role. She responded, “I don’t think so,” and when I asked why, she said, “I don’t like how she talks or acts.” I replied that if that’s the standard, even I wouldn’t qualify to be a priest, as I’m not well spoken either. Let’s look to the cross—Jesus gave His life for each of us. Remember the man crucified next to Jesus, often called “the good thief”? Jesus promised him, “today you will be with me in Paradise,” so he can be considered the first saint of the Church. In contrast, the chief priests, scribes, and elders, who were strict followers of religious law, stood at the cross, mocking Jesus. Isn’t it a paradox? Those who strictly observed the rules played a part in Jesus’s death, while the one condemned as a sinner entered heaven.

3. The interior. It’s the heart that we need to focus on transforming. This is where Jesus wants to dwell—within us—not to judge, but to bring light to our lives. Nurturing and filling our hearts with God is essential. Our interior life is what truly matters, as it shapes our actions. The strength and love that inspire us to do good come from deep within. Discover God’s presence in your heart and share Him with those whose hearts may feel empty. God will never abandon you, because He loves you.

Today we honor Our Lady of Lourdes. We seek her intercession and the healing she brings. With her gentle love, Mary comforts us. She repeats to your heart the words she spoke to St. Bernadette in Lourdes: “I do not promise you happiness in this world, but in the next.”

Remember that something good is on the way!  

God bless you and keep you in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.