Gospel: Mark 7: 14-23
The false practices of cottage industry religion are always around us. They would have you believe that the source of all your problems are external things - material objects, association with "those people", and a host of other boogie-men. Their solution is to buy their book or this amulet, or send them money so they can defeat the bad guys and the forces of evil in the universe. Cottage industry religion is always self-interested profit seeking.
The truth, however, of what authentic religion consists of is given to us today by Jesus. It is not a popular message, for the enemy of our faith is ourselves. It exists within us and it is there and there alone where the struggle is to be had. No one wants to hear that they are the problem. It is much easier to have the problem moved to some scapegoat, and that vicarious activities will remedy matters. But alas that is not the case.
The only way to authentic holiness and religion is to engage in the struggle of ourselves within. Cottage industry religion leads only to further secularism and loss of God. Once it is realized for the sham that it is people turn away from religion altogether and lose faith entirely. But if we engage in the struggle Jesus tells us to undertake we will find salvation, freedom, and authentic religion.
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