Sept 2

Judgment tends to have a bad reputation. We often associate it with condemnation, and in the Gospels, we associate it with the Pharisees. Today's Gospel features the Pharisees doing exactly what we expect. "They observed that some of his disciples ate their meals with unclean, that is, unwashed, hands." The Jewish people had strict purification laws that applied to all areas of life. The Pharisees attempt to accuse Jesus of not following the ancestral traditions. Jesus doesn't take offense at their judgments per se. He instead points out the hypocrisy of their words. "You hypocrites ? this people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me." From there, Jesus turns his attention to the concerns of the heart. "The things that come from within are what defile." He lists off a number of sins, including some the Pharisees were likely struggling with, including evil thoughts, envy, and arrogance. When we examine the list, perhaps we're reminded of our own trips to the confessional! As we strive to follow Jesus and live with integrity, we must be aware of our hearts. We must judge our own actions. Are they leading us closer to God or away from Him? Are we growing in love of our neighbor, or are we becoming more closed in on ourselves? As we move into this week, consider the state of our own heart. Perhaps you are overly scrupulous in less important areas. Perhaps there are large areas of overlooked sin that you've excused for too long. Whatever it is, the judgment of God need not cripple us. He offers us a share in His mercy as soon as we turn to Him. This week, allow your heart to be transformed! ©2018 Liturgical Publications