Mark 7:14-23
He summoned the crowd again and said to them, "Hear me, all of you, and understand. Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person; but the things that come out from within are what defile." When he got home away from the crowd his disciples questioned him about the parable. He said to them, "Are even you likewise without understanding? Do you not realize that everything that goes into a person from outside cannot defile, since it enters not the heart but the stomach and passes out into the latrine?" (Thus he declared all foods clean.) "But what comes out of a person, that is what defiles. From within people, from their hearts, come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly. All these evils come from within and they defile."
It's funny how the first thing that popped into my mind when I read this was that I actually disagree with this when taken literally. Jesus is telling the crowds that what goes into their body does not create evil rather it is all of the things evil thoughts and malice that defile. This day in age in a society that lives primarily on processed food research continues to prove the way that food affects behavior, especially in children. Additionally, this problem has an obvious socioeconomic link. In fact what we nourish or do not nourish our bodies with has a MASSIVE effect on the way we feel and in turn, the way we act. I would like to think that Jesus would have pity on those who do not have access to proper food for this reason exactly.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I realize that there is a time-period factor in this particular verse that must be be considered when reading. Jesus is telling the crowd that their strict eating rules will not change their lives as simply following such religiousity will not keep them from committing evils. Rather, they must let their hearts be changed in order to keep evil away.
This brings me to Lent. On March 9, as we all embark on a 40 day journey of solidarity with Jesus many of us (we?) Catholics will give restrict ourselves dietarily in effort to deny ourselves and our desires. In light of this passage we must remember that while there is immense value in engaging in such self-denial as giving up sugar, or dessert or alcohol, it is not merely these acts that open our souls up to God's good over Satan's evil. Rather, we must juxtapose these efforts with constant prayer to let God meet our desires and bring goodness into our hearts.
Sometimes when I start to really experience the Lord on a consistent basis (right now) I find that I am met with periods of unbelief. These thoughts come on without a moment's notice and literally strike fear in me. I think it is evil trying to capture my heart and I know that in those moments it is more important than ever to pray and pray often.
So...we are what we eat, indeed...and...to quote a Brazilian woman that I met in Rio.... "We are what we do but even more so we are what we do to change who we are."