Thus he declared all foods clean.
“But what comes out of the man, that is what defiles him.
From within the man, from his heart,
come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder,
adultery, greed, malice, deceit,
licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly.
All these evils come from within and they defile.”
It is easy to suppose that living an ostentatiously good life keeps one's heart pure. Food does not contaminate the soul; nor should we suppose that detoxifying foods will purify the heart. Obviously the paid influencers who promote that banality care not a whiff for the consumer's heart or soul.
"God sees the heart!" Samuel told Jesse as they looked among Jesse's sons for God's choice of an anointed ruler of Israel.
I, the LORD, explore the mindand test the heart,Giving to all according to their ways,according to the fruit of their deeds.A partridge that broods but does not hatchare those who acquire wealth unjustly:In midlife it will desert them;in the end they are only fools. Jeremiah 17:10With all vigilance guard your heart,for in it are the sources of life. Proverbs 4:23
The Pharisees, who loved money, heard (Jesus' teaching) all these things and sneered at him. And he said to them, “You justify yourselves in the sight of others, but God knows your hearts; for what is of human esteem is an abomination in the sight of God. Luke 16:14-15
Sneering comes easily to God's enemies, today as then; it will not come so readily to their lips when they see the Day of His Judgment.
The faithful know and love the truth. We have seen saints live for it, and martyrs die for it, and we hope to follow where they have gone. We pray that the truth finds us worthy of their company. Meaning that we can do fine without the company of those who sneer at virtue, honesty, sacrifice, piety, devotion, or prayer. We shake the dust of their streets off our feet and go with the Lord.
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I love to write. This blog helps me to meditate on the Word of God, and I hope to make some contribution to our contemplations of God's Mighty Works.
Ordinarily, I write these reflections two or three weeks in advance of their publication. I do not intend to comment on current events.
I understand many people prefer gender-neutral references to "God." I don't disagree with them but find that language impersonal, unappealing and tasteless. When I refer to "God" I think of the One whom Jesus called "Abba" and "Father", and I would not attempt to improve on Jesus' language.
You're welcome to add a thought or raise a question.