HOMILY FOR WEDNESDAY OF THE FIFTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B (1)

HOMILY FOR WEDNESDAY OF THE FIFTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B

HOMILY THEME: THINGS THAT DEFILE A MAN AND THINGS THINGS THAT PURIFY A MAN

BY: Fr. Benny Tuazon

HOMILY:

(Mk. 7:14-23)
In the day’s Gospel we hear Jesus teaching the apostles about which defiles a person. Jesus gave a clear description and comparison of the effect of what comes in a person and what comes from the heart. Jesus correctly said that what we take in are just digested and excreted. Thus, strictly speaking, we are never defiled by them. But what comes from our hearts including our minds and expressed by our actions and speech are what defile. Jesus goes on to mention those defiling sins; evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, and folly.

Our goal therefore is to always have a clean heart. Just like David who had been defiled by his lust and deceit, we beg the Lord to forgive us and create a clean heart for us. Indeed, how we respond to everything that are offered before us will determine our defilement. Having a clean heart, that is possessing God’s goodness, will never bring us defilement.

The Beatitudes also have the same goal. Blessedness is having a pure and clean heart. It merits seeing God! In the Old testament, Yahweh said, “You cannot see My face, for no man can see Me and live!” (Exodus 33:20) This presupposes a sinful heart and a heart which focuses on many Gods. “To have a clean heart involves having a singleness of heart toward God. A pure heart has no hypocrisy, no guile, no hidden motives. The pure heart is marked by transparency and an uncompromising desire to please God in all things. It is more than an external purity of behavior; it is an internal purity of soul.”

Let us beg the Lord for this grace of having a clean heart. We can only desire for it. Only He can give it.