Daily Catholic Lectio
Wed, 7 February 2024
Wednesday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time
1 Kings 10:1-10. Mark 7:14-23
Direction of defilement
“There is nothing outside a person that, by going into him, can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what can defile him.” By saying so (in the gospel reading), Jesus gives us a new understanding about the direction of defilement.
Jesus, who says that those which come from outside reach one’s body, while those which come from inside come from one’s heart, puts forward two contrasts: ‘body-heart’, ‘from outside in-from inside out.’
According to the Hebrew and Aramaic understanding of Jesus’ time, a human person has three elements: ‘body, heart, and soul.’ ‘Heart’ could be rendered as ‘mind’ as well. ‘Body’ is the external tactile matter; ‘heart’ is not a mere internal organ that purifies blood but the seat of feelings and emotions. ‘Soul’ is the ‘life breath’ or the’spirit.’ This was believed to dwell in one’s throat.
Modern psychology says that the feelings and emotions that emerge from our heart (mind) are responses to the stimuli that we receive from the external world through our five senses. Perceptions are the primary sources of responses. However, we need to remember that though information comes through sensory organs, it is the heart (mind) that processes, analyses, and responds.
Jesus’ teaching on the ‘external-internal’ emerges in the context of his teaching on ‘God’s commandment – tradition of elders.’ The Pharisees and the scribes were careful about the defilement that comes from without and conveniently ignored the defilement that comes from within.
What are the lessons from Jesus?
(a) The new understanding of the direction of defilement. The direction of defilement is from inside out.
(b) The defilement that is caused by external factors such as food and place will become pure when we bathe ourselves. But defilement of the heart can be rendered correct only when there is conversion or transformation of the heart.
(c) The thoughts, feelings, and emotions that emerge from within become external acts such as sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, and foolishness. Therefore, we must be careful about these.
In the first reading, Queen of Sheba, upon hearing the wisdom of Solomon, comes to visit him. She bestows on him praise and gifts. Wisdom is nothing but knowledge translated into action; it is a skill made manifest in action. Wisdom, which is internal, exhibits itself through actions. Wisdom is a positive quality that emerges from the heart. It purifies a human person.
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During the Year of Praying, in preparation for the Ordinary Jubilee 2025, let us examine our hearts in the light of prayers. (cf. Jubilee A. D. 2025, bite 25).
Fr. Yesu Karunanidhi
Archdiocese of Madurai
Missionary of Mercy
Yesu Karunanidhi 
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