Daily Gospel Reflection
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February 12, 2025
Jesus summoned the crowd again and said to them,
“Hear me, all of you, and understand.
Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person;
but the things that come out from within are what defile.”
When he got home away from the crowd
his disciples questioned him about the parable.
He said to them,
“Are even you likewise without understanding?
Do you not realize that everything
that goes into a person from outside cannot defile,
since it enters not the heart but the stomach
and passes out into the latrine?”
(Thus he declared all foods clean.)
“But what comes out of the man, that is what defiles him.
From within the man, from his heart,
come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder,
adultery, greed, malice, deceit,
licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly.
All these evils come from within and they defile.”
When I was little, I remember opening my parents’ medicine cabinet and finding certain bottles labeled with an orange sticker that had a hand-drawn frowny face on them; this was their way of helping me avoid opening these bottles because certain medicines could cause illness or death at my age.
Perhaps this gospel passage is Jesus’ way of placing little orange stickers on the things that poison our hearts, minds, and bodies.
In Jacques Philippe’s book Interior Freedom he says, “It is an extraordinary source of hope and a great consolation to know that, by virtue of God’s grace working in us (if we remain open to it by persevering in faith, prayer and the sacraments), the Holy Spirit will transform and expand our hearts to the point of one day making them capable of loving as God loves.”
How do I begin to love “as God loves,” especially when I have unwanted evil thoughts that pop into my mind, like the ones Jesus mentions in today’s gospel: unchastity, greed, envy?
One starting point could be listening to Fr. Mike Schmitz’s video on YouTube called “What to Do About Intrusive Thoughts.” Fr. Mike offers Christ’s peace to us, explaining that there are natural and supernatural reasons and solutions for intrusive thoughts. The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines “concupiscence” as “an inclination to sin” or “the tinder for sin” which remains in our human nature due to original sin (CCC 1264). Between the reality of sin and our brains always firing, it is natural to experience intrusive thoughts.
Amid intrusive thoughts, we can first remind ourselves that we are created good and we are broken and in need of Christ’s help. Then, we can ask ourselves, “Is there anything I’m exposing myself to that is encouraging these thoughts? And, if so, what can I do to eliminate this influence?” Finally, knowing we’ll never be 100% free of intrusive thoughts in this life, let us turn to God with this simple prayer that Fr. Mike invites us to pray.
“I don’t want these thoughts. Jesus, please come and help me.”
Prayer
Lord Jesus, you teach us the way of the pure of heart, that we might see God more clearly, and so love God more fully. Help us to overcome the weakness and sin in our lives that prevent us from loving you and others with all our heart. Give us patience, perseverance, and confidence in your loving mercy for those sinful habits and behaviors that we find particularly difficult to overcome. Help us to know that your love for us is greater than our capacity to sin. Amen.
Saint of the Day
St. Julian’s story has inspired people for generations. We have no date associated with his life, and even a location is difficult to pin down (somewhere in Europe—either in Italy or southern France), but his legend made him famous as patron saint of hospitality and entertainment workers.
The story goes that he was a nobleman and while he was out hunting one day, he received a vision that warned that he would kill his parents. He was horrified by the idea, and secretly moved far away.
He came into the service of a king, and grew to be a trusted advisor, marrying a wealthy widow and gaining knighthood. His parents set out to find him, traveling throughout the land. While Julian was out on a hunting party, they came upon the castle where he lived and inquired about him.
His wife told them that Julian was out hunting, but offered her bed to them for the night. When Julian returned that night and found two bodies in his bed, he assumed that his wife was being unfaithful, drew his sword and struck both bodies. His wife had been in the church saying her night prayers, and Julian met her when she returned. He was devastated to learn that his vision had come true.
He resolved to leave and give himself to the service of others until he gained assurance from God that he had performed a fitting penance for his sin. His wife joined him, and they traveled until they came to a river crossing. There they built a hospice to welcome weary and sick travelers, and Julian assisted people in crossing the river.
After many years, in the middle of one night, Julian heard a voice asking for help to cross the river. He found a leper nearly frozen to death, and helped him into the hospice to warm him and give him food. Seeing that the man would soon die from his exposure, Julian gave him the comfort of his own bed. The man was revealed to be a messenger from God, who announced that Julian’s penance was over.
St. Julian is patron saint of travelers, ferry workers, and hotel keepers. He is also patron of childless people, carnival workers, fiddlers, jugglers, murderers, and pilgrims.
St. Julian, your fantastic story inspired your patronage of innkeepers and fiddlers, pray for us!
Image Credit: Our featured image of St. Julian the Hospitaller is in the public domain. Last accessed December 5, 2024 on Wikimedia Commons.
