Daily Gospel Reflection for February 8, 2023

Join us as we reflect, ponder, and pray together inspired by today's Gospel.

Today's Gospel: Mark 7:14-23

The Bible has many powerful images and stories that we can draw upon within our lives. This reading from the book of Mark reminds me of people that I have met who wear chastity and holiness like a crown. It makes them better than the rest of us. It makes them holy and above the sins of the heart and flesh. But that is not what Jesus is saying at all. Jesus says that wickedness comes from within. That who we are in our heart of hearts is what matters most and what God sees. This includes what we do when we are alone. What we do when we think no one is watching. Having pureness and love in our heart of hearts is what we strive for, although we are imperfect people.

If you remember the movie Mean Girls, Janis crowned herself with pureness in bringing down Regina George. She pitted Cady to infiltrate and take down the popular mean girl group at school. Although Janis claimed it was because they needed to be brought down, it was out of wicked thoughts and feelings in her heart that led her to that desire. Janis never got hers during the movie but that’s not to say that’s how the rest of life went. The moral of my story is that if someone is trying to get you to do something for them that involves hurting others, look closely and what they stand to gain from it. You do not need to be anyone’s puppet. God loves that you try your best to be a good and decent person. He delights in our choosing right from wrong as we go through our lives. By choosing kindness, not because it brings us anything but because it is what God would want us to do.

Ponder:

How can I further allow God into my heart on a daily basis? What is getting in the way? How can God help me overcome this obstacle?

Pray:

Dear God, please grant me a loving heart in deed and in action. Allow me to love my neighbor even when I want to kick them in the shin. Please allow me to be a servant of Your will and to love and show Your love to those around me.