Come out of the man

Greetings on this the Wednesday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time
Readings: Gn 2:4b-9, 15-17; Ps 104:1-2a, 27-28, 29bc-30; Mk 7:14-23
Notes: Come out of the man. It is an observation and a command.

When you send forth your spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the earth.

The birth of every single human person is an expression of the promise!
Every human receives the breath of life from the Lord!
And it is very good!

Our problem is not what we are made of but what we choose to generate and blow out in defiance.

• In defiance means open resistance; bold disobedience.
• To defile means to desecrate or profane something sacred.

In defiance we defile that which is sacred – the ruah – the breath of God.

The answer Jesus gives is in two parts.

• First, he addresses the crowd with the simple observation that – Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person; but the things that come out from within are what defile.
• Then he gives the Apostles a deeper, detailed explanation. This is work of ministry. To help people with the inclinations that separate and defile the human family.

It is an observation and a command.

• What comes out of the man – as a problem.
• What comes out of the man – as the solution – a different meaning.

Early in Jesus’ ministry: Jesus rebuked him [the unclean spirit] and said, “Quiet! Come out of him!” (MK 1:25). This is the worst case possible, but we all suffer from derivative cases and effects. Defile is a choice. Sanctity is the better choice.

First reading
the LORD God formed man out of the clay of the ground and blew into his nostrils the breath of life, and so man became a living being.

The LORD God then took the man and settled him in the garden of Eden, to cultivate and care for it. The LORD God gave man this order: “You are free to eat from any of the trees of the garden except the tree of knowledge of good and evil. From that tree you shall not eat; the moment you eat from it you are surely doomed to die.”

Responsorial Psalm
O bless the Lord, my soul!

All creatures look to you to give them food in due time. When you give it to them, they gather it; when you open your hand, they are filled with good things.

Alleluia Verse
Your word, O Lord, is truth: consecrate us in the truth.

Gospel Portion
Jesus summoned the crowd again and said to them, “Hear me, all of you, and understand.

[combining with the detail]

“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.”

Peace be with you,
Deacon Gerry