Deep Cleaning

Gospel: Mark 7: 1-8, 14-15, 21-23

There was once a man named Joe.  He was retired and spent all his days at church.  He attended Mass daily, helped the nuns in the convent with chores and odd jobs, attended novenas, and placed flowers at the altar every week.  He was the kindest, nicest man you could know.  Everyone loved seeing Joe as his smile animated every room and made people feel good.

One day Joe needed a ride home from church.  This became an opportunity to get to know Joe a little better.  Joe grew up in a poor Croatian family of blue collar workers.  He was a retired tradesman.  When asked if he was ever married, Joe grew angry and bitter.  He uttered such invective against his former wife, vowing that he would never, ever forgive her for what she did to him.  

Religion is not about the outer appearance of ourselves.  It is about what we cultivate in our hearts and souls.  So much of our religious life is outward insincerity.  The cure for this is to live a life of forgiveness and mercy - to seek forgiveness and to extend forgiveness to others.  That is the real heart of our faith.  Everything else is outward show.  If we cannot seek forgiveness and give forgiveness to others, none of the rest matters.