CLEANING IS AN “IN-THING”

“What emerges from within a man, that and nothing else is what makes him impure.” –Mark 7:20
“All these evils come from within and render a man impure.” —Mark 7:23

The source of “acts of fornication, theft, murder, adulterous conduct, greed, maliciousness, deceit, sensuality, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, an obtuse spirit” (Mk 7:21-22) is the impurity inside us. Consequently, it is very important to be cleansed inside and to remain clean inside. This means that:

• The Sacrament of Reconciliation is one of God’s most precious gifts because of its cleansing power.
• The penitential rite at the beginning of Mass is one of the more important moments of our day and life.
• To hear God’s cleansing Word daily is even more necessary than to wash daily (see Eph 5:26; Jn 15:3).
• Fasting, because of its cleansing power, should be highly valued.
• The defilement from most TV programs and what we view on our handheld electronic devices is intolerable.
• “Dirty language” and “dirty pictures” are aptly named and are worse than living in a garbage can.
• The defilement from unforgiveness must be removed immediately (see Mt 5:25).

Be clean and stay clean — deep inside — and thus be free and holy (see Jn 8:36).

PRAYER: Father, whatever it takes, cleanse the temple of my heart (see Jn 2:15ff).
PROMISE: “The Lord God formed man out of the clay of the ground and blew into his nostrils the breath of life, and so man became a living being.” –Gn 2:7
PRAISE: St. Jerome Emiliani dedicated his life to aiding the poor.