From Within

“There is nothing from outside a man which, by entering into him, is able to defile him. But the things which proceed from a man, these are what pollute a man.” Mark 7:15

Last Sunday I was able to listen to an interesting talk about healthy eating. No to white dead sugar, yes to living sugar in fruits, stevia and honey. No to iodized salt, or salt from polluted water. Yes to Himalayan salt or living salt. Yes to olive oil but not for frying. We tasted a really delicious soup made of malunggay, gata, salt, and ginger and a yummy brown rice salad with all sorts of vegetables and flowers. The plant based diet has been gaining many followers. I know some people who have changed their lifestyle and have been much healthier because of it. 

In today’s gospel, Jesus reminds us that if we are concerned with what we put in our mouth, we should be more concerned about what comes out of it. “From within the man,” Jesus teaches his disciples, “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.” 

We may think we are free of these evil things Jesus listed, but He did compare murder with anger in Matthew 5. Murder begins in the heart, as with all other evil. It is good to heed what Jesus says and watch what seeds we plant in our heart every day. Let us cultivate love, generosity, kindness, peace, compassion, etc. and share these with others.