“[W]hat comes out of the man, that is what defiles him” (Mk 7:20). Jesus offers a list in today’s gospel of what can be unleashed from within and then directed out toward another. These are examples of what defile us, because at some level, we make the decision to think about, speak about, and put into action those thoughts, words, and actions.
To resist the temptation to defile ourselves and others, we can follow the lead of the writer from the letter to the Hebrews who offered the Church in Rome a wonderful verse, which I pray every morning: “Encourage each other daily while it is still today” (Hebrews 3:13). There are many that we will encounter or hear about each day that are going to do the exact opposite. May our goal be to resist spending any time or energy in supporting any thoughts, words, or actions that demean, belittle, or dehumanize. We can call those out who do so, stand up for those impoverished from these attacks who do not have a voice, but must not succumb, engage, or in any way be lowered to the negativity unleashed. Otherwise we become an agent in perpetuating the vileness and poison that seeps all over our discourse.
Our thoughts, words, and actions matter because we are all interconnected, and even what we ruminate on is projected on our faces and directed out toward another, we don’t even have to say a thing. Thoughts entertained lead to words and actions that wound. We need to approach each day more mindfully in such a way that we resist reacting, and instead think and pray about our response. The only time our silence can be harmful, is when we do not convict others in their disregard of the dignity of the person.
Let us choose this day to align our thoughts, words, and actions with those of Jesus. We can follow St Mother Teresa of Calcutta’s five finger gospel as a reminder: “You did it to me.” What we do to the least of our brothers and sisters, we do to Jesus (cf. Mt 25:35-45). May we resist defiling ourselves and others such that we never let evil talk pass our lips and instead think, speak, and act in a ways that empower, convict, and build up others. May we choose to forgive the negativity hurled at us, and meet it with a posture of compassion that seeks to understand the perspective of the hurler. May we strive to love each other, to will each other’s good.
Knowing we will not be able to do this alone, we need to remember to call on Jesus, to ask for his strength, courage, and love to empower us, that we may resist opportunities to defile and even in the midst of other’s acts of dehumanization, such that we may be a vehicle of transformation, so to shine the light of his love in dark places.
Photo: St Mother Teresa of Calcutta, in main sanctuary at St Peter Catholic Church
Link for the Mass readings for Wednesday, February 7, 2018:
Spiritual Stepping Stones