This Sunday morning, perhaps
accompanied by a good cup of coffee, may be a good time to ask how much of the
Pharisaic infection is in our hearts. They never observed the laws they have
multiplied for the people. This is a dangerous way of life which we must be
careful about. We must not live a hypocritical life or even make life
unnecessarily difficult for others. By saying that: “What comes out of a man is
what defiles him,” the Lord is inviting us today to look inward and examine
ourselves properly. The intentions we have in our hearts, the malice, hatred,
pride, and the evil thoughts that we have for others are really what make us
who we are. If any of these has a room in our hearts, we must evict it as
quickly as possible. They are the real enemies that we have and must fight. Our
heart and mind are like a big box filled up with many different things. There
is a saying that: “The greatest enemy that one has is and, lives with oneself.”
It is also the most difficult enemy to fight, because it comes with denial and
pride. The quality of our life is measured by the qualities of what we have in
our hearts. So, the most important thing that God needs from us is a pure
heart. Today (and many other days) like the psalmist we can say: “Create a pure
heart in me O Lord and, put a new and loyal spirit in me”[1]. We
will be faithful to the commandment of God only if our hearts are transformed
by it; when it motivates us to pursue goodness, to love others, to avoid sin
and evil; when we are moved to repent and to forgive others and; when we make
effort to live a just, merciful and, honest life. So, as Paul tells us today in
our second reading, we must put into practice the word of God which are his
commandments are of love: “Accept and submit to the word which has been planted
in you…you must do what the word tells you.” The best way to do this is to let
our Christian faith find expressions in the way we love and treat others. The
challenge is not simple, but the grace of God is effective and abundant; It is
a matter of being with an open and well-disposed heart • AE
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