"Nothing that enters one from the outside can defile that person; but the things that come out from within are what defile."
Mark 7:15
So much for "You are what you eat!" But this makes such perfect sense and goes along well with yesterday's Gospel. The people of Jesus' time had strict cleanliness laws and were quite finicky eaters. But, did that make them more moral, caring, loving people? Not necessarily. Jesus makes the point that it is what we do and say that really indicates what kind of people we are. Not what we eat or how we wash. The early dietary laws and laws of cleanliness probably made so much sense in the culture of the time. (Can you imagine NOT washing food from the first-century market?) They probably insured a healthier way of life. But, somehow, something got lost in the stringent adherence to law after law. People lost compassion and caring for each other. They lost themselves in hurtful, self-righteous, judgmental activity, but, by golly, their dishes were clean! Let's take care today to pay attention to what comes out of our mouths--our gossip, harsh judgments, critical tongue-wagging is far more harmful than anything we could eat today! Love, heidi
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