Listen and Understand

Matthew 15:1-2, 10-14
Then Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, 'Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands before they eat.' Jesus called the crowd to him and said to them, 'Listen and understand: it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but it is what comes out of the mouth that defiles.' Then the disciples approached and said to him, 'Do you know that the Pharisees took offence when they heard what you said?' He answered, 'Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind. And if one blind person guides another, both will fall into a pit.'

As I move through the moments of each day, I am in an unceasing stream of stimulation. Words, sights, sounds, aromas, liquids, solids all enter my body through a variety of senses. Some are disturbing, some are comforting...even pleasurable. Some are cleansing or nourishing in some way...others are toxic...detrimental to wellness or wholeness.

My mind forms a judgement about the stimuli...and depending upon its evaluation, I decide how to act in the future. My mind says "embrace, remember and repeat" or "avoid or eliminate". In other words, a "rule" emerges regarding my behavior. That may work well some of the time...but not always.

My mind is swayed by factors that may not be in my best interests. My emotions and my egotistical desire to decide for myself what will be most comforting or most satisfying are faulty at best.

I am especially deluded when I pose as one who has the right to impose my opinions of what "should" be done (or not done) upon others. In my delusion or total blindness, I may be leading others to equal folly!

In today's scripture, Jesus counsels us to look to the seeds of wisdom that God plants in the heart. When I devote my attention to the nudges and nourishment that glimmer in the deep places of prayer, I am more likely to think, speak and act according to God's will.

Jesus said:

'Listen and understand: it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but it is what comes out of the mouth that defiles.'

These are authoritative words, right? Jesus invites and assures our inner connection to the source of what is true and appropriate. He counsels us to pay attention to the what is going on in our relationship with God so that what flows out to others is a manifestation of God's Love.

Listen to what God bestows to your heart as you pray and ask God's help to understand what it means in the context of the day and the people you encounter.