Homily

Wednesday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time – 2026
Gospel: Mark 7:14–23



1. Introduction

My brothers and sisters, today’s Gospel invites us to look in a direction we often avoid: inside ourselves. We are very good at managing appearances, polishing behaviour, and pointing out what is wrong “out there”. But Jesus gently, and firmly, turns the mirror towards our own hearts.

2. Humorous Story

There is a story of a man who went for a full medical check-up. After many tests, the doctor said, “Good news, everything is fine. You just need to change your lifestyle.”
The man asked, “What must I change, Doctor?”
The doctor replied, “Your diet, your sleep, your stress levels, and your attitude.”
The man sighed and said, “Doctor, can’t you just give me tablets? This sounds like hard work!”

Many of us would rather take tablets than do inner work. And yet, Jesus tells us today: the real problem is not what goes into us, but what comes out of us.

3. Exegesis (Brief and Clear)

In Mark 7, Jesus is speaking to people who were very serious about religious rules, especially about food and ritual purity. For them, holiness was about external observance: clean hands, clean food, clean rituals.

Jesus does not dismiss the law, but He goes deeper. He teaches that evil originates in the heart: envy, pride, deceit, greed, hatred, arrogance. In biblical language, the “heart” is not just emotions; it is the centre of decision-making, where thoughts, desires, and choices are born.

Jesus is saying:

You can eat the right food, say the right prayers, attend Mass regularly—and still have a poisoned heart.

True holiness is an inside-out journey, not an outside-in performance.

4. Three Practical Lessons for Today

1. Pay attention to what comes out of your mouth
Words reveal the heart. Sarcasm, gossip, harsh criticism, and constant complaining often point to unresolved inner struggles. Today, before speaking, ask: Is this building or breaking?

2. Clean the heart, not just the habits
We often try to fix behaviour without addressing the root. Anger, jealousy, or bitterness do not disappear by willpower alone. They need prayer, honesty, healing, and sometimes forgiveness.

3. Holiness begins in ordinary choices
What we watch, listen to, laugh at, and tolerate slowly shapes the heart. Small daily choices either soften or harden us. Choose what leads to life.

5. Inspirational Quote

“The heart is the place where either God reigns or the ego takes control.”
— Henri Nouwen

6. Conclusion

My brothers and sisters, Jesus is not condemning us today; He is inviting us to freedom. When the heart is healed, life flows differently. Our relationships improve, our faith deepens, and even our silence becomes prayerful.

God is less interested in our perfect image and more interested in our honest hearts.

7. Prayer

Let us pray:

Lord Jesus,
You see our hearts more clearly than we see ourselves.
Cleanse us from within.
Heal what is wounded, soften what is hardened,
and purify our intentions.

May our words bring life,
our actions reflect love,
and our hearts become a dwelling place for You.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.
Amen.

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