7 February, 2024 | Memorial of St Gonsalo Garcia | Wednesday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time

 Reading : 1 Kgs 10:1-10

Gospel Mk 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.”

Reflection:

The Gospel of today is a fine example of what a Christian is called to. Jesus warned the disciples of the hardship, hatred and persecutions that they will encounter as they go out to carry out their mandate of preaching the gospel. Even in our ordinary life, witnessing or speaking the truth is dangerous. Jesus Himself experienced crucifixion and death for doing so. The same is true with the martyrs who died for their faith, specially St. Gonsalo Garcia whose feast we celebrate today.  

It would be wrong to think that preaching the message of salvation in our time is easy. Yet we do not shrink in fear. Jesus gave us the assurance that those who will endure to the very end will receive a just reward. We need not  worry about what to say because the Holy Spirit will provide us with the words and sentences to convey the message. All we need is simplicity, shrewdness and courage to do our mission. 

Activity:

 Set aside five minutes to pray for Christian missionaries all over the world specially those who are persecuted because of their faith in Jesus Christ.