Daily Reflection Wednesday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time

Our bodies, our creature characteristics are the topics in our Scripture readings today.  Both Genesis and Mark focus on how we use our bodies. So, we first read about the creation of the human being in Genesis. Then Mark tells us how Jesus is describing what comes in and goes out of the body. Although what he says sounds like a physical explanation, Jesus is actually examining us spiritually. 
 
    Periodically throughout the gospel, we sense Jesus’ intensity in conveying his Father’s message. Yes, we are loved unconditionally by God, but responding to this love is a two-way street. From time to time, we see Jesus becoming annoyed by the Jewish leaders’ emphasis on obeying rules and laws for inconsequential actions. We sense his frustration today as he explains to his followers that what we hear and eat do not defile us (unless it’s rotten food!) Yet, what we say and do can defile us. 
 
    The author of the Book of Genesis describes the lovely land that God has created for us. God forms a human person. Ah! But the human person possesses something that none of the beautiful and exotic plants possess: free will!
 
    Each of us is created with free will. Jesus warns us to be careful with what we do with this gift. He even lists human faults that we now label as the capital sins. If, as Jesus says, evil comes from our hearts, then good also comes from our hearts! As Valentine’s Day approaches, let’s review what a pattern of doing good does for a healthy self-love, as well as our sincere love for others. We are graced to have received the opposite of the capital sins—the gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit in Baptism and Confirmation.
 
    The first of the capital sins is lust—desire for excessive sexual pleasure. We can temper this desire by exercising our self-control. If we are not tempted from within, we can certainly give into gluttony from the visceral ads for food from TV commercials. We can overcome this sin through temperance and a healthy lifestyle.   Becoming angry at injustices and helping to eradicate them is a good antidote to selfish wrath—anger that gets upset because we don’t get what we want. During our prayer, let us review the remaining capital sins and their corresponding virtues. We will then be able to make healthy choices as Jesus has directed us.
 
    After Jesus has warned us about the use of our words, Mark tells us that he continues to visit people, talk with them and cure them of whatever ails them. Our challenge is to imitate Jesus. Although we cannot cure physical illnesses, we can lessen the burden of those suffering from loss, depression, anxiety. Let us focus on how we can share our gifts of love with those in need.
 
You-Tube: “My Body, My Temple” by Jan Phillips