Jesus unmasks what is behind certain practices presented as religious. And he takes a concrete example referring to the fourth commandment. Corban was the vow for which a person consecrated to God his own goods, making them untouchable and reserving them in the treasury of the Temple. Apparently, God was praised, but in reality, the parents remained prevented from receiving necessary sustenance, when the Temple and the priests remained still the more rich.

In the Gospel, Jesus teaches us to discern where we encounter the root of evil, that tempts us away from God bringing us to sin and to death. Many times we see that the world presents us with a proposal, appeals to sex, power, consumerism, the pleasures, chaos, violence. And wrongly we suppose that it is this that motivates us to live a life far from God. We find that the concupiscence comes from outside to undermine our virtue. However, Jesus gives us knowledge that from “inside the human heart comes impurities!”And not from outside.

We are created in the image and likeness of God and our heart was made full of His love, in order that with this same love we may be able to love Him and to love our neighbors and with them maintain edifying relationships. With all, we have in us a seed of original sin. That which deforms our image and likeness to God; for this reason, we also cultivate in our heart the lack of love and pride. It is through pride and vanity that man turns himself bad! All that we cultivate within us is going to motivate our actions.

Our heart is the fount of blessing and of curse. Evil does not enter through the mouth, but comes out of the heart of men. The fount of evil is the thinking of men. If we do not care to cultivate healthy and grateful thoughts to God, we are going to stamp our actions with the mark of hell and already we will not appear with Jesus, who comes to the world for us to configure us to Him.

It is for each one of us to make a reflection of how is our interior in order that we may be being washed with living water, fount that brings live in abundance, this is the Holy Spirit, or for in the foul sewer of our interior of which only comes debauchery.

Are we exhaling the perfume of Heaven or the stench of Hell? You have made an examination of conscience of your interior? In which have you been bathed? To where are you directing your thoughts, things good or things evil? You keep grudges within yourself? Do you ever confide in someone to help you with your grudge or do you allow resentment to ruminate in your thoughts?

Father, create in my heart, a true purity that permits me to be in Your presence, sure that my life pleases You.

Father Bantu Mendonça

Fr. Bantu is a Diocesan Priest for the Diocese of Benguela, Angola

Portuguese VersionThis was originally published in March of 2011