The Catholic Calendar for Wednesday, February 8, 2006
Wednesday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time
St Jerome Emiliani, priest
St. Josephine Bakhita, religious

Scripture from today's Liturgy of the Word:
1 Kings 10:1-10
Psalm 37:5-6, 30-31, 39-40
Mark 7:14-23

A reflection on today's Sacred Scripture:

Have you noticed how good some individuals in our society have become at passing the buck and blaming other people, outside forces or one’s environment, for wrongs the individual committed? The daily news seems full of this where people seem to never take responsibility for their errors, mistakes and wrongs and attempt to pass it off on someone or something else. At times, it seems we have made this a true art.

Our Lord gives us a strong teaching on this in today’s gospel saying, “the things that come out from within are what defile.” Sin is a choice we make and comes from within us and not because of someone or something else. Corporate malfeasance has been blamed on the “drive to succeed” and not on the inner desire for riches and greed. Extramarital affairs are blamed on another’s seduction and not lust that comes from within. We are all faced with temptation, but it is what comes out of us as a result of that temptation that determines whether we sin or not.

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

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