12.02.13

Lectio:  Mt 16.15-20                                                                           

Meditatio: “These are what defile a person, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile. “ Mt 16.20                                                          

Oratio: O God, what You have created is good but we, though well intentioned, make rules that often  miss the point.                                        

I remember the Pharisees of Jesus’ time considered the failure to wash one’s hands as defiling the person; but Jesus made it clear it is not what we eat or take into our mouths which defiles, but what comes out of our mouth from the heart such as lies, evil thoughts, murder, lust, etc.

Grant that I may ever grateful for Jesus giving us the guidance on what is true worship and what we ought to do; and willingly give our hearts and minds to God and serve others selflessly so You will be rightly praised.

I ask this and all things in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You
and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever.

Contemplatio: spend some time in silence and meditate on the selected passage and hear what
God is saying to you.

Operatio: reflect: "eat...unwashed hands... not defile”; the Pharisees made hygiene laws religious laws and worried about clean hands but did not worry about having clean hearts;     In prayer thank Jesus for correcting false worship practices and for giving us the Eucharist and the Great Law of Love as the best way of giving thanks and praise to our God and for our spiritual benefit as well.     
                        
Tomorrow's reading: Mt 15.29-37