In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus teaches us a powerful lesson: it's not what goes into a person that defiles them, but what comes out of their heart. He warns us about the "evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness" that can lurk within (Mark 7:21-23). This message is a challenge for all of us, but especially for families.
Our homes are meant to be sanctuaries of love, but they can also become battlegrounds if we let our hearts become polluted. Think about the book of Genesis. God placed Adam and Eve in the garden and gave them a choice: to eat from the tree of life, or the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. We face similar choices every day in our families. Do we choose patience when our child is having a meltdown, or do we react with anger? Do we forgive a spouse's hurtful words, or do we hold onto resentment? These choices shape the very atmosphere of our homes.
Jesus contrasts what goes into a person with what comes out. What are we "feeding" our hearts? Are we filling them with gossip, negativity, and anger from the news or social media? Or are we nourishing them with prayer, Scripture, and positive influences? The things we feed our hearts will ultimately shape our words and actions, especially within our families.
One of the biggest challenges to family life is our inability to truly listen to each other. How often do we interrupt, jump to conclusions, or formulate our response while the other person is still speaking? This prevents us from really understanding each other and creates distance and resentment. Listening with an open heart is an act of love. It requires humility and a willingness to see things from another's perspective.
Jesus calls us to examine our hearts. What's truly inside? Are we harboring anger, jealousy, or unforgiveness? These things not only defile us spiritually, but they poison our relationships.
But there's good news! God's grace is always available to help us cleanse our hearts and renew our relationships. Through prayer, confession, and the Eucharist, we can experience healing and transformation.
Let's make a conscious effort to guard our hearts. Let's choose to feed our minds with positive things. Let's practice patience and forgiveness in our families and workplaces. And let's commit to truly listening to each other.
May God bless our families and help us to create homes where love, peace, and joy flourish.
- Father Pinto's inspirational homily was recorded live during Mass at the Father Peyton Center this morning. You can view the Mass (and the Rosary at the 30-minute mark) on the Family Rosary YouTube page.
- To join the Rosary and Mass Livestream, visit the Family Rosary YouTube or Facebook page at 11:30 a.m. Eastern, Monday – Friday. Consider inviting others to join too! (*If you are not a member of Facebook and a signup window appears, simply select the X at the top of the pop-up message and continue to the livestream.)
.jpg "Father Pinto Paul, C.S.C.")