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Home Sections The Daily B.R.E.A.D. Feb 10, 2010 - Wednesday Meditation (We All Need a Savior!)
Feb 10, 2010 - Wednesday Meditation (We All Need a Savior!) PDF Print E-mail
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Sections - The Daily B.R.E.A.D.
Written by Bobot Apit   
Sunday, 07 February 2010 05:29

 

We have to be aware of how often we fall short, because it is only when we realize how much we need a savior, that we will allow one to enter our lives. We can ask for Jesus' grace to change what comes out of us, to bless our envy, blasphemy, arrogance and folly, and to transform it by his love into generosity, kind words, compassion and a willingness to let go of our stubbornness.

 

 

 

Memorial of Saint Scholastica

 

1 Kings 10:1-10

 

Psalm 37:5-6, 30-31, 39-40

 

M ark 7:14-23 And he called the people to him again, and said to them, "Hear me, all of  you, and understand: (15) there is nothing outside a man which by going into him can defile him; but the things which come out of a man are what defile him." (17) And when he had entered the house, and left the people, his disciples asked him about the parable. (18) And he said to them, "Then are you also without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into a man from outside cannot defile him, (19) since it enters, not his heart but his stomach, and so passes on?" (Thus he declared all foods clean.) (20) And he said, "What comes out of a man is what defiles a man. (21) For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, fornication, theft, murder, adultery, (22) coveting, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. (23) All these evil things come from within, and they defile a man."

 

 

 

Meditation by Maureen McCann Waldron

 

My husband and I were once invited to join a Jewish family for Passover dinner in their home. We loved the stories behind each course and every ritual and it gave me a better sense of my own faith. To someone unfamiliar with Jewish dietary laws, they seemed complicated, but to this family it was an important and respected part of their religous practice.

 

In today’s gospel, Jesus speaks to a crowd who would have been very familiar with the food laws. But, as sometimes happens to all of us, there might have been more focus on the technicalities of the law rather than the importance and meaning of the religious practice. Jesus tries to shift the focus from the rules about the defilement of our bodies to something more important – what is in our hearts.  We see a very human Jesus using the example of the most basic bodily functions.  He says that it is not what comes out of our body that defiles us but what goes into our hearts. 

 

Then he notes the kinds of sins that might be in our hearts.  It’s a list most of us can start reading comfortably, knowing we don’t commit those sins.  Jesus begins his list: “unchastity, theft, murder, adultery…”   Really, those are the kinds of sins other people commit.

 

Then Jesus gets to the end of his list: “envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly”…   Now I feel the pinch.  These are clearly things Jesus says will defile us.  Am I ever envious?  Do I use God’s name in vain?  Arrogance – it’s one of my best sins!  Folly?  It means the lack of good sense and to that I must sometimes admit guilt, most often during a good bout of arrogance.

 

The list of things that defile us, take away from the dignity and sanctity we have as human beings, is a list of ordinary struggles of everyday life.  When we run into a situation that is overwhelming, do we spontaneously turn to God or do we conclude we can handle this situation ourselves?  That arrogance, that independence, draws us away from feeling God’s presence in our lives.  God is still there just as deeply, but we are so busy testing our own power, sure we can go it alone. 

 

Today’s gospel is a reminder that we aren’t created to “go it alone” and that Jesus is our savior, wanting to heal us.   We have to be aware of how often we fall short, because it is only when we realize how much we need a savior, that we will allow one to enter our lives. We can ask for Jesus' grace to change what comes out of us, to bless our envy, blasphemy, arrogance and folly, and to transform it by his love into generosity, kind words, compassion and a willingness to let go of our stubbornness.

 

Lord, change my heart and what comes out of it. Bless my efforts and my life and allow me to really feel how much I need you as a savior in my life. Let my heart be open to everyone you have sent to be in my day.

 

 

 

Supplementary Reading

 

Receive His Mercy

 

 

 

Mercy triumphs over judgment. --- James 2:13

 

 

W e've all made mistakes. We've all made wrong choices; but as believers in Jesus, that doesn't change our heritage. God doesn't kick us out of the kingdom because we're not perfect. Maybe you don't feel like you deserve God's goodness, or you think you're supposed to suffer through life and just endure that problem. But friends, this is what mercy is all about. His mercy will renew and restore you if you receive it by faith today.

 

 

 

No matter what you may have done wrong, you are still the apple of God's eye. You are still His most prized possession. You can still activate God's promises by faith today. Why don't you shake off the guilt and condemnation? Put your shoulders back and say, "I refuse to live below my privileges. I may not be perfect, but I am forgiven. I may have made mistakes, but God knows my heart is to please Him, and I am changing my ways. Even though I may have brought this trouble on myself, I'm going to stay in faith and expect God to turn it around."

 

 

 

" Gracious heavenly Father, thank You for Your mercy. Thank You for receiving me, loving me, cleansing me, and changing me. I dedicate every area of my life to You and invite You to have Your way in me. In Jesus' Name. Amen." --- Joel Osteen
 
 
 

 
 
Daily Mass and Gospel Meditation Broadcast (Tagalog) thru DWXI (5am Phil Time), pls click this link:  http://www.eradioportal.com/index.php?p=2&aid=1&sid=62#STS=g1jais7y.zk6

 
GOD BLESS US ALL!
O Theos Na Mas Evlogisi!
PRAY as if everything depended on HIM. ACT as if everything depended on YOU.

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