The Quality of our life is Measured by the Quality of our heart

Deut. 4:1-8, Jam. 1:17-18.22-27, Mk 7:1-8.21-23. On this Twenty Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B, the Church challenges us to worship God with sincere heart. In today's first reading, Moses reminded his people on the need to be steadfast to the Commandments of God. He warned them not to add or remove from it. With time, they multiplied the Ten Commandments to six hundred and thirteen legal codes and through this, made life practically and extremely difficult for the people. Thus, in today’s Gospel, Jesus confronted the Pharisees because of their hypocrisy.

As people of faith, we must be very careful never to live a hypocritical life or make life difficult for others. When Jesus says that: “What comes out of a man is what defiles him,” Christ calls us to self-evaluation. The malicious intentions, hatred, pride and the corrupt tendencies we harbour in our heart are really what define and make us who we are. They are the vices that make us bad. We must evict them before they rock our ‘spiritual boat’. These are the real and hidden enemies that we must fight and defeat daily. The quality of our life is measured by the quality of our heart and mind. If our mind and heart are infested and sick, our body would be sick a thousand time more. As James admonishes us in the second reading, we must accept and submit to the word of God which has been planted in us and the best way to do this is to let our faith find expressions in the way we live, love and treat others.

May the Lord implant in our hearts the love of His name, increase our zeal for His service, nourish what is good in us and turn it with watchful care! Amen!! Good morning and Happy Sunday!!!