Mark 7: 1-8, 14-15, 21-23 https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/090124.cfm
Is That You? I don’t think so.
After someone confesses their sins in confession, I sometimes ask them, “Is that you? Do those things you confessed make you happy? Do they make anyone else happy?” They always answer, “No.” Then I say, “Why do them?”
Sin goes against us. It’s like wanting to go on a diet to lose weight, and we are eating all the wrong foods. It’s like painting over a crack in the foundation of our house, hoping it will go away.
Jesus talks about what defiles a person. Eating the wrong foods over some time can defile our bodies. Sins like “evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy” defile us. We turn into the sins we commit. We think and behave sinfully.
We wouldn’t eat a rotten piece of meat or fish. It would make us sick. It defiles our bodies. Sin defiles our whole person, our hearts – who we are in our essence.
I hear the school children’s confession every Thursday at 1 p.m. Each week is a different grade. When I ask a child in confession, “Does that sin make you happy?” Their face says it all with a sad frown. Their hearts are speaking, and they are now in the Presence of the Lord. He lets them see what He sees, their good hearts.
Their frown becomes a smile when they know they are not a bad person but a good person. A good person doesn’t like these sins and hates them. I have watched Jesus wash adults’ sins away through the tears rolling down their cheeks.
Praise God! “God saw everything that he had made. Indeed, it was very good.” (Genesis 1:31). His goodness in us endures every sin we commit because His merciful love for us never fails when we turn to it.
Gospel Challenge:
My friends, make a good confession and put your heart into it.
Peace be with you.
Love Your Neighbor:
Fr. Rick Pilger, I.C.
pastor@bscchurch.com