Gospel: Matthew 15:1-2, 10-14 (or Matthew 14: 22-36)
Then, some Pharisees, and teachers of the law, who had come from Jerusalem, gathered around Jesus. And they said to him, “Why don’t your disciples follow the tradition of the elders?For they, they don’t wash their hands before eating.” Jesus then called the people to him, and said to them, “Listen and understand: What enters into the mouth does not make a
person unclean. What defiles a person is what comes out of his mouth.”
After a while the disciples gathered around Jesus and said, “Do you know that the Pharisees were offended by what you said?” Jesus answered, “Every plant which my heavenly Father has not
planted shall be uprooted. Pay no attention to them! They are blind, leading the blind. When a blind person leads another, the two will fall into a pit.”
Reflection
True holiness begins in the heart.
In the Gospel, Jesus boldly critiques the religious leaders by challenging their focus on external rituals while neglecting the heart's true condition. When the Pharisees question why His disciples
disregard ceremonial traditions, Jesus responds by exposing the emptiness of their practices. He redirects the conversation to what truly matters: not external observance but the state of the inner self.
Jesus declares, "What enters the mouth does not make a person unclean. What defiles a person is what comes out of their mouth." This radical teaching urges us to examine our hearts. Are we focused on outward appearances while allowing pride, envy, or anger to fester within? True holiness begins in the heart, with love, mercy, and humility shaping our actions. This passage reminds us to prioritize authenticity over appearances. Jesus invites us to embrace a faith that transforms us from the inside out, where our words and actions flow from a heart rooted in His truth and grace. Let us live with integrity, honoring God in spirit and truth.
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