Reflection for Tuesday
of the 18th Week in Ordinary Time, Year A
(Jer 30: 1-2, 12-15,
18-22; Mt 15:1-2, 10-14)
Prophet Jeremiah began to announce a message of hope. “Thus says the Lord: Behold, I will restore the fortunes of the tent of Jacob, and have compassion on his dwellings; the city shall be rebuilt
upon its mound, and the palace shall stand where it used to be.” All the idols
they ran to could not help; only God would heal this wound. No more foreign
rulers, but their ruler shall come forth from their midst. “And you shall be my
people, and I will be your God.”
It was dramatic in the Gospel as the Pharisees and Scribes from Jerusalem came to Jesus. These were law-conscious first class citizens. They complained about the disciples not washing hands before eating. Jesus turned to the people, called their attention and said, “Hear and understand: not what goes into the mouth defiles a man, but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.” This answer was a blow on their pride and sense of relevance! They took offence at Jesus.
What comes out of the mouth, comes from the soul, and expresses the state of the heart. And since God looks at the heart—the centre of thought and emotions—it is what makes one to be in good standing with God or not. Thus, washing hands as a form of cleansing to avoid defiling the person before God is misplaced. It is the heart that ought to be cleansed, then, the words that comes forth would be clean. In other words, the defilement that comes from the mouth ought to be uprooted from the heart and mind. How can this be possible?
“I, the Lord, search the heart, test the motives, to give each person what his conduct and his actions deserve” (Jer 17:10). The heart is a ‘secret place’ and elusive. If the word that comes from man can defile him, taking in the word that comes from God will heal him. And if the word of God makes its home in our hearts (Eph 3:17), then, our mouths will speak of the righteousness of God, joy and peace. That was why the Pharisees and Scribes who closed their eyes with pride and jealousy against the words of Jesus, vomited anger and persecution. By meditating on the word of God each day, our hearts shall be like trees planted by the waterside that is evergreen, producing good fruit in season and out of season (Ps 1:2-3; Jer 17:8). Learn this spiritual exercise, and Jesus will make His home in you. And no defilement shall take root in you.
As you continue to join in our meditations on the Mass readings, May God sanctify + you that your every labour may bear fruit to the glory of God, Through Christ Our Lord. Amen!
Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter & Paul Catholic
Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.
Tuesday August 4th, 2020.
Memorial of St. John Mary Vianny
www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com
