The Evil Within Us
Wednesday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time
My dear encountered couples:
Jesus tries to explain that there are no foods that are impure. Jewish customs and traditions held some to be so. He said what comes out of a person is impure. From the first part of his teaching effort a person might think he is merely speaking of the food process within us.
The second part makes it clear what he is speaking about. “Wicked designs come from the deep recesses of the heart: acts of fornication, theft, murder, greed, envy, etc.”
Persons, places, and things outside of us can tempt and draw us, but only because the tendency is already within us. It is the giving in to that tendency and temptation that is the impure or sinful act. It is not the pornographic magazine, not the drugs, not positions of power, not bank vaults filled with money, not income tax forms, not the prize waiting to be won, not the riches waiting to be possessed; not even pretty people or places - no!
It is how we respond to such magazines; it is for what purpose the drugs are used; it is the way we want to use positions of power; it is how we obtain riches; it is how honest we are in filling out income tax forms that really counts.
One may use or obtain any of these and everything else. It is the “what and the how” that count - the motive and the method.
Look into yourself. It is from there that come any evils you might do. So, don’t blame anything, any place, or anyone else. Get to know yourself – and let God help you improve.
