The Catholic Calendar for Tuesday, August 2, 2005
Tuesday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time
St. Eusebius
St. Peter Julian Eymard

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
Numbers 12;1-13
Psalm 51:3-7, 12-13
Matthew 15:1-2, 10-14


A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

I sometimes wonder if the Pharisees ever had time for real prayer, the kind where a soul becomes totally enveloped in the Father’s love. It is during those times that we find what is deep within us, what really has the potential to defile us. It is during those times that we allow God to come into us and make us whole through his infinite grace and love.

As Jesus teaches us today, it is not what goes into our mouths that defiles us, but what comes out. They are the things deep within us that can lead us to sin, to hypocrisy and trouble. We must be constantly diligent of what is going on in our hearts to weed out these things and cleanse our souls.

The Lord is there for us. He is the one who can help us throw out those things that tempt us, those things that wait for us to become weak and allow them out. He alone can heal us of all things.

Ritual is important; there is no doubt about this. But ritual without prayer and deep communion with Him is all white wash and not worth the time spent on it. Now is the time to get rid of the Pharisee within, and allow Jesus in to heal us with His infinite love.

- Don Claunch, SFO
(dlclaunch at bresnan dot net)

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